off her sweet face and her pretty dress, and the flowered hat, but she asked them all sorts of questions, and finally they found themselves telling her the story of how they found the pig.
“And what is your pig’s name?” said Lady Kathleen.
“Sure, ma’am, it’s Deirdre, but we call her Diddy for short,” Eileen answered.
All the young gentlemen and ladies laughed. The Twins didn’t like to be laughed at—they were almost ready to cry.
“And why did you call her Deirdre?” asked Lady Kathleen.
“It was because of finding her in the bog all alone with herself, the same as Deirdre when she was a baby and found by the high King of Emain,” Eileen explained.
“A very good reason, and it’s the finest story in Ireland,” said Lady Kathleen. “I’m glad you know it so well, and she is such a fine pig that I’m going to buy her from you myself.”
All the young ladies seemed to think this very funny, indeed. But Lady Kathleen didn’t laugh. She called one of the footmen. He came running. “Do you see that this pig is sent to the Castle when the Fair is over,” she said.
“I will, your Ladyship,” said the footman. Then Lady Kathleen took out her purse. “What is the price of your pig?” she said to the Twins.
They didn’t know what to say, but the Judge, who was standing near, said, “She is a high-bred pig, your Ladyship, and worth all of three pounds.”