"You shall soon—you shall soon—" Nell's arms were round her; her voice choked.
"I want to go now! S'pose I'm dead before mother and dad come back?—All green—and cool—I'm all scorchin', but I wouldn't be there—Oh, I want to go home! I want just to look at it!—I'll come back quite quick—I b'lieve I'll die if I don't go!—Molly O'Rourke died, because she went to America. I'll die, too—I'm all sick inside—" She shook all over with sobs; her voice rose to a wail of utter woe. "I must see it—all green—and the colt—oh, he can go—he'll be a fine horse, miss, entirely—look at the legs of him already!—Where's the sugar, then, you bad boy? He knows!—All dirt and smoke and houses—and houses—and a great big monnyment where people kill theirselves. Nell, where are you? Nell—I b'lieve you're throwin' yourself off the monnyment—"
She quieted down a little; her body shook with deep, silent sobs. She began whispering to herself.
"If I could just see you—just for one minute—just walk 'long on the grass—by the stream—and up the Kilsparran hill—and go and see Biddy—with the turf smokin' in my eyes—and smell it—" Then she broke out crying again.
"I want to go home! I want to go home!"
Nell tried to soothe her. She was trembling herself; but the Atom's little body was torn and shaken with her awful weeping. She clung to Nell, crying out pitifully that she must go home—she must go home.
"I can't bear it any longer—I'm stiflin'—please—just to let me feel it—I'll come back—so good—oh, please—I must go home! Oh, I want to go home! Where's Denis? I want Denis—"
"I'll go and fetch him, dear. Will you wait?"
She went out on to the landing. He was walking up and down: he turned quickly.
She shut the door quietly, and went to meet him. Her face was quite white; when she spoke, her voice shook.