"Whisht! will you," said the boatman. "We're bad enough without that. Give us peace to think a bit. If they were drowned they would ha' been washed in by this. The early tide would ha' brought them, for the boat couldn't carry them far without upsettin'."
"I'll run away! I'll run away!" shouted Bridget.
"Run then," said Lally. "It isn't you we're thinkin' of, but the poor ould lady, and the father and mother that's out in Africa."
At this moment a white speck appeared on the sea. A ray of sunlight had struck across the twilight and made it visible; then something larger and darker was seen behind it moving with it.
"Would it be a boat?" said Lally, as all eyes were strained watching this appearances.
"Then you may well ask, for a boat it is!" said the boatman. "If it isn't the angels that's bringin' them childher home, by my word, I don't know what it is!"
A few more minutes of eager watching assured them that Terry and Turly were returning, if not visibly in the custody of angels, at least in the care of two sturdy oarsmen, who were pulling towards the shore.
As they came near enough to be well seen and heard the children stood up in the boat and cheered and waved their handkerchiefs to their friends. Bridget waited for no more, but ran with the good news to the House.
Poor old Nancy had made an excuse to get away from Madam for a few minutes and was leaning against the door-post, scarcely able to stand, and with a face of the most intense misery. When she saw Bridget running towards her, waving her apron, she knew the news must be good.
"They're all right!" screamed Bridget, ever so far away. "They're comin'! They're comin'!"