Alfred looked at Rose very thoughtfully, and asked, "Do you not know what I have done, Rose?"
"Sure and I never knew ye do anything bad since the day I came with ye from Belfast; think of that now, and ye'll do bravely yet, my darlint."
"Ah, Rose! I see very plainly how it is; you do not know what I am. Did you ever read the fifth chapter of the Acts, and the twenty-first chapter of the Revelation, Rose?"
"Why yes, Master Alfred, to be sure, I've read the Bible through entirely, but I don't just remember those particular parts by chapter and verse. But what has that to do with the loss, Master Alfred? I want to say a word of comfort to you. Think of Miss Mary when she lost her handkerchief; the mistress never said a word about it after: and it's the flower of the country she is for kindness, when we tell her our faults."
"Yes, yes, Rose, I know all that very well; but do you remember hearing about Ananias and Sapphira in the Bible?"
"O, if it's I don't remember that! I'll forget kith and kin afore I'll forget how afraid I was to tell a lie in the Sunday school, for fear of being struck dead; and it's a fine scrape entirely I got into, and lost a pretty new frock into the bargain."
"Did you, Rose, indeed? O, I wish I had been you!" and the tears fell fast again over the penitent boy's cheeks.
"Ah now, Master Alfred, do not take on so. What can be the matter? Sure this story has nothing to do with you, has it?"
"I see how it is, Rose; the dreadful tale has been kept a secret. You do not know what I am."
"Is it I do not know what you are, Master Alfred? why sure it's your reason entirely ye'll lose by the heart-trouble, whatever it is. Not know what ye are? Sure your're a fine young gentleman, and it's the son of the mistress ye're for kindness; and the likes o' ye I never saw, barrin' your brother, the darlint."