"And, if he was a rale gentleman, he'd never think of disthressing a poor widow for a few dollars. But there's no such gentlemen here as there is at home in old Ireland."
"I am sure, granny, they do things as bad in Ireland. Didn't you tell me, only yesterday, how Sir Patrick Byrne used to live in Paris and let his factor squeeze the people for their rent, and take their bits of pigs and pull down the shanty over their heads? But never mind that," she added, hastily. "No doubt there's good and bad both there and here. You did not tell me how it was that you didn't pay the money this year."
"And didn't I lay it all out for you, ungrateful child that you are, for the very clothes that you go to church in, as fine as a paycock, and me not a dacent rag to my back nor a roof over my head? Answer me that, miss! And you coming and telling me how the ladies called you a ragamuffin! A pretty thing, indeed, for you to throw it in my face, and me turning meself out of house and home for your sake!"
"I didn't mean to throw it in your face, granny. I am sure you meant to be very kind; and the things were just what I wanted. We won't mind about that. What did Mr. Grayson say about our going out of the house?"
But no more was to be got out of granny, except wails and reproaches.
"Well, never mind," said Nelly, after a little consideration. "How much money have you got in the house, granny?"
Granny did not know. It was all in the broken mug on the shelf.
Nelly counted it over, and found there were almost five dollars. She then examined into the state of the provisions.
"There is flour enough for two weeks yet, besides the meal and the potatoes, and the great piece of pork Mrs. Ward gave us when she shut up her house. There is tea enough for you, and you don't want sugar. I want to take this money, granny, to put with what I have at the shop. May-be he will let us off, after all, if we pay all we can."
At first, the old woman was utterly opposed to this plan. It was only throwing it away to pay it to that old miser; and what should they do if they gave away all their money, forbye the cow, that must have her food?