Dandy Keho—for so Corny was called, as being remarkable for his slovenliness—started up hastily, and having taken the pipe out of his mouth, was about to place it on the hob; but reflecting that the whiff could not much retard him in the delivery of his orders, he sallied out to the barn, and knocked.
“Who’s there? Lave that, wid you, unless you wish to be shotted.” This was followed by a loud laugh from within.
“Boys, get up wid all haste: it’s the misthress. Phil, saddle Hollowback and fly—(puff)—fly in a jiffy for Rose Moan; an’ do you, Barny, clap a back-sugaun—(puff)—an Sobersides, an’ be aff for the Misthress’s mother—(puff.)”
Both were dressing themselves before he had concluded, and in a very few minutes were off in different directions, each according to the orders he had received. With Barny we have nothing to do, unless to say that he lost little time in bringing Mrs Keho’s mother to her aid; but as Phil is gone for a much more important character, we beg our readers to return with us to the cabin of Rose Moan, who is now fast asleep; for it is twelve o’clock of a beautiful moonlight night, in the pleasant month of August. Tap-tap. “Is Mrs Moan at home?” In about half a minute her warm good-looking face, enveloped in flannel, is protruded from the window.
“Who’s that, in God’s name?” The words in italics were added, lest the message might be one from the fairies.
“I’m Dandy Keho’s servant—one of them, at any rate—an’ my Misthress has got a stitch in her side—ha! ha! ha!”
“Aisy, avick—so, she’s down, thin—aisy—I’ll be wid you like a bow out of an arrow. Put your horse over to ‘the stone,’ an’ have him ready. The Lord bring her over her difficulties, any way, amin!”
She then pulled in her head, and in about three or four minutes sallied out, dressed as we have described her; and having placed herself on the crupper, coolly put her right arm round Phil’s body, and desired him to ride on with all possible haste.
“Push an, avouchal, push an—time’s precious at all times, but on business like this every minute is worth a life. But there’s always one comfort, that God is marciful. Push forrid, avick.”
“Never fear, Mrs Moan. If it’s in Hollowback, bedad I’m the babe that’ll take it out of him. Come, ould Hack-ball, trot out—you don’t know the message you’re an, nor who you’re carryin’.”