you're doing, Mrs Kelly. I don't want to say anything harsh at present,
but you'd better take care what you're about with me and my family, or
you'll find yourself in a scrape that you little bargain for."

"I'll take care of myself, Mr Barry; never fear for me, darling; and,
what's more, I'll take care of your sister, too. And, to give you a
bit of my mind--she'll want my care, I'm thinking, while you're in the
counthry."

"I've not come here to listen to impertinence, Mrs Kelly, and I will
not do so. In fact, it is very unwillingly that I came into this house
at all."

"Oh, pray lave it thin, pray lave it! We can do without you."

"Perhaps you will have the civility to listen to me. It is very
unwillingly, I say, that I have come here at all; but my sister, who
is, unfortunately, not able to judge for herself, is here. How she came
here I don't pretend to say--"

"Oh, she walked," said the widow, interrupting him; "she walked, quiet
and asy, out of your door, and into mine. But that's a lie, for it was
out of her own. She didn't come through the kay-hole, nor yet out of
the window."

"I'm saying nothing about how she came here, but here she is, poor
creature!"

"Poor crature, indeed! She was like to be a poor crature, av' she
stayed up there much longer."

"Here she is, I say, and I consider it my duty to look after her. You
cannot but be aware, Mrs Kelly, that this is not a fit place for Miss
Lynch. You must be aware that a road-side public-house, however decent,
or a village shop, however respectable, is not the proper place for my
sister; and, though I may not yet be legally her guardian, I am her
brother, and am in charge of her property, and I insist on seeing her.
It will be at your peril if you prevent me."

"Have you done, now, Misther Barry?"

"That's what I've got to say; and I think you've sense enough to see
the folly--not to speak of the danger, of preventing me from seeing my
sister."

"That's your say, Misther Lynch; and now, listen to mine. Av' Miss
Anty was wishing to see you, you'd be welcome upstairs, for her sake;
but she ain't, so there's an end of that; for not a foot will you put
inside this, unless you're intending to force your way, and I don't
think you'll be for trying that. And as to bearing the danger, why,
I'll do my best; and, for all the harm you're likely to do me--that's
by fair manes,--I don't think I'll be axing any one to help me out of
it. So, good bye t' ye, av' y