A sudden cessation of the music and the measured beat of feet upon the earthen floor made him look round. Lady Dulcie stood just within the door.
‘Lady Dulcie!’ Desmond cried in astonishment, and rose and went towards her. ‘What has brought you here?’
‘I’ve come to speak to you,’ she said.
‘Desmond, I must speak to you.’
‘But,’ replied the boy, ‘this is no place for you.’
‘It’s the place where you are,’ said the girl, with a tender look shining in her eyes, ‘and that’s enough for me.’
Larry, standing arrested with his arm about Rosie’s waist, caught the words.
‘D’ye hear that?’ he said to his partner. ‘Clare out, boys,’ cried the widow. ‘There’s the rale stuff in the next room and in a moment, as if by magic, the whole company melted away,—only Larry and Rosie lingering at the door.
Widow Daly wiped the seat of a stool for her guest, and set it for her.
‘Sit ye down, my lady. Ye’re kindly welcome.’