“How will it be prevented?”
“By a gentleman that has a title and great wealth, and that loves the member of your family that the misfortune is likely to happen to.”
The squire paused and looked at the woman, who seemed to speak seriously, and even with pain.
“I don't believe a word of it, Molly; but granting that it be true, how do you know it?”
“That's more than I can tell myself, sir,” she replied. “A feelin' comes over me, and I can't help speakin' the words as they rise to my lips.”
“Well, Molly, here's a shilling for you now; but I want you to see my daughter's hand till I hear what you have to say for her. Are you a Papist, Molly?”
“No, your honor, I was one wanst; but the moment we take to this way of life we mustn't belong to any religion, otherwise we couldn't tell the future.”
“Sell yourself to the devil, eh?”
“Oh, no, sir; but—”
“But what? Out with it.”