One cried, "Och, you cannot keep it secret at all, at all! 'Tis from himself—Shaun O'Day, and 'tis from America!"
The crowd set up a loud roar. "Yes, yes, we know! From America! We saw the mark! 'Tis a fine secret you'd keep, Eileen!"
Eileen's face became red with anger.
"Stop!" she cried. "'Tis not true! He's with the fairies! He's in a fairy city! 'Tis himself says so!"
But the crowd only laughed the more loudly. "Ho! A fairy city! And why, then, is the letter marked with the mark of America?"
Eileen had wondered, too, about this. She wondered about the postmark. It said "U.S.A." And that meant United States of America.
"'Tis a trick of the fairies!" she cried, believing it herself. "A trick to put us off their track! 'Tis himself that's working for the fairy shoemaker in a fairy city!"
She then told them what Shaun had said about the lights at night and the thunder noise. She told how he was receiving pay for his work and about the school to which he went.
They stopped shouting and listened. Their jaws fell open. They were forced to believe that Shaun was truly in the land of the leprechaun!
Still, some were doubtful and went away wagging their heads and sneering.