'Ah, you walked home with the girls. What became of Hugh?'
'Troth, ma'am, he just got overtaken with a drop of drink, and I thought 'twas but friendly to see the girls home.'
'I am sorry to hear Hugh was so bad as that, Tim.'
'Well, sorra much was on him, Miss Ellen, but he was loath to quit Mrs Galagher's when we got off the boat, so we just left him there.—Hem! Miss Ellen, I'v a thought to change my life.'
'I am very glad to hear it, Tim.'
'Yes, miss' (Tim always forgot my matronly title in confidential talk)—'yes, miss. 'Tis lonely work growing old with nobody to take care of you.'
'That is a selfish way of looking at things, Tim,' I replied.
'Begorra, miss, what else would a man marry for but to have himself took care of?'
'I suppose liking the girl he married would be a kind of reason too,' I responded.
'O ay. I'd still like to have the one I'd fancy, if she was handy.'