"Whisht!" said her husband, holding up his hand. "It's like a wild burrd," he added, after listening a few moments.
"The pore thing. An' it's loike a wild burrd she is," said Mrs. Carroll pityingly. "Left alone so soon afther comin' to this sthrange counthry. It's a useless man altogether, is that ould Prospector."
Carroll's face darkened.
"Useless!" he exclaimed wrathfully, "he's a blank ould fool, crazy as a jack rabbit! An' Oi'm another blank fool to put any money into 'im."
"Did ye put much in, Tim?" ventured Mrs. Carroll.
"Too much to be thrown away, anyhow."
"Thin, why does ye do it, Tim?"
"Blanked if Oi know. It's the smooth, slippin' tongue av 'im. He'd talk the tale aff a monkey, so he would."
At this moment a loud cry, followed by a stream of oaths in a shrill childish voice, pierced through the singing.
"Phat's that in all the worrld?" exclaimed Mrs. Carroll. "Hivin preserve us, it's little Patsy. Tim, ye'll 'av to be spakin' to that child for the swearin'. Listen to the oaths av 'im. The Lord forgive 'im!"