you," said the priest; "you can tell her that Pat
Connex will be there."

II

After leaving the priest Ned crossed over the road to avoid the
public-house. He went for a walk on the hills, and it was about five
when he turned towards the village. On his way there he met his father,
and Ned told him that he had been to see the priest, and that he was
going to take Mary to the lecture.

Michael Kavanagh wished his son God-speed. He was very tired; and he
thought it was pretty hard to come home after a long day's work to find
his wife and daughter quarrelling.

"I am sorry your dinner is not ready, father, but it won't be long now.
I'll cut the bacon."

"I met Ned on the road," said her father. "He has gone to fetch Mary.
He is going to take her to the lecture on poultry-keeping at the
school-house."

"Ah, he has been to the priest, has he?" said Kate, and her mother
asked her why she said that, and the wrangle began again.

Ned was the peacemaker; there was generally quiet in the cabin when he
was there. He came in with Mary, a small, fair girl, and a good girl,
who would keep his cabin tidy. His mother and sisters were
broad-shouldered women with blue-black hair and red cheeks, and it was
said that he had said he would like to bring a little fair hair into
the family.

"We've just come in for a minute," said Mary. "Ned said that perhaps
you'd be coming with us."

"All the boys in the village will be there to-night," said Ned. "You
had better come with us." And pretending he wanted to get a coal of
fire to light his pipe, Ned whispered to Kate as he passed her, "Pat
Connex will be there."

She looked at the striped sunshade she has brought back from the
dressmaker's--she had once been apprenticed to a dressmaker--but Ned
said that a storm was blowing and she had better leave the sunshade
behind.

The rain beat in their faces and the wind came sweeping down the
mountain and made them stagger. Sometimes the road went straight on,
sometimes it turned suddenly and went up-hill. After walking for a mile
they came to the school-house. A number of men were waiting outside,
and one of the boys told them that the priest had said they were to
keep a look out for the lecturer, and Ned said that he had better stay
with them, that his lantern would be useful to show her the way. They
went into a long, smoky room. The women had collected into one corner,
and the priest was walking up and down, his hands thrust into th