"Sure, he might have brought them before, if he'd been coming at all! Much good they are now, to be sure!"
"Why, granny, what is the matter?" asked Nelly. "Don't you think it was kind of the gentleman? I thought you would be glad to see me look so nice."
"And so you do look nice, dear; and I am glad, only—But never mind. We won't borrow trouble. Why don't you open your parcel and see what I have got for you?"
Nelly uttered exclamations of delight over the contents of the bundles. There were two nice new frocks, a gayly-striped petticoat,—even a hoop-skirt. Another parcel held a pretty straw hat, trimmed with beads and blue ribbons, a nice white handkerchief, and a pair of thread gloves.
"Why, granny, all these for me!" exclaimed Nelly. "It never rains but it pours. Just think of me with three new frocks at once, and a hat, and all!"
"Mind you take care of them, for they cost a deal of money," said Mrs. Ryan. "Ay, a deal of money," she repeated, nodding her head. "But I won't have you called a ragamuffin again by these upstarts, that never saw a rale lady or lord in their lives."
"Oh, the name didn't hurt me any," said Nelly, who could now afford to laugh at her morning's trouble. "Words break no bones, you know you say, granny."
"Ay, dear; but they break worse, sometimes. They break hearts; and hearts can't be mended as easy as bones. Remember that, dear," said the old woman, significantly. "And now put all the fine things away, and get the supper ready; for I'm tired and weary."
Nelly obeyed, wondering more and more at her grandmother's unusual mood. She tried to divert her from it by asking her questions about Ireland and Kilmane Park. But, for once, the artifice failed of its effect. Granny gave short though not unkind answers, and continued to talk to herself in Irish, till at last Nelly grew scared.
"Don't you feel well, granny? Shall I go for the doctor?"