At length they arrived at Dandy Keho’s house, and in a moment the Dandy himself took her in his arms, and, placing her gently on the ground, shook hands with and cordially welcomed her. It is very singular, but no less true, that the moment a midwife enters the house of her patient, she always uses the plural number, whether speaking in her own person or in that of the former.
“You’re welcome, Rose, an’ I’m proud an’ happy to see you here, an’ it’ll make poor Bridget strong, an’ give her courage, to know you’re near her.”
“How are we, Dandy? how are we, avick?”
“Oh, bedad, middlin’, wishin’ very much for you of coorse, as I hear”——
“Well, honey, go away now. I have some words to say afore I go in, that’ll sarve us, maybe—a charm it is that has great vartue in it.”
The Dandy then withdrew to the barn, where the male portion of the family were staying until the ultimatum should be known. A good bottle of potteen, however, was circulating among them, for every one knows that occasions of this nature usually generate a festive and hospitable spirit.
Rose now went round the house in the direction from east to west, stopping for a short time at each of the windows, which she marked with the sign of the cross five times; that is to say, once at each corner and once in the middle. At each corner also of the house she signed the cross, and repeated the following words or charm:—
The four Evangels and the four Divines,
God bless the moon an us when it shines.
New moon,[2] true moon, God bless me,