sun shines. He served Dennis and
Alister and turned to me.

"Have you a mother in Liverpool?" I asked, before he had time to ask me
which "pop" I wanted.

As I have said, his mouth was big, but I was almost aghast at the size
to which it opened, before he was able to say, "Murther and ages! Was ye
there lately? Did ye know her?"

"Yes; I know her."

"And why would ye be standing there with the cold pop, when there's
something better within? Come in, me boy. So you're acquainted with my
mother? And how was she?"

"No, thank you, I don't drink spirits. Yes; your mother was well when I
saw her."

"GOD be praised! It's a mighty long time since I seen the ould
craythur."

"Fifteen years," said I.

I looked at Mr. Macartney as I said it, but he had evasive eyes, and
they wandered to the doorway. No customers appeared, however, and he
looked back to Dennis and Alister, but they had both folded their arms,
and were watching us in silence.

"Murther and ages!" he repeated, "it doesn't feel the half of it."

"I fancy it seems longer, if anything, to her. But she has been on the
look-out for you every day, you see. You've a good business, Mr.
Macartney, so I dare say you're a ready reckoner. Fifteen times three
hundred and sixty-five? Five thousand four hundred and seventy-five,
isn't it?"

"It's a fine scholar for a sailor-boy that ye are!" said Micky; and
there was a touch of mischief in his eye and voice which showed that he
was losing his temper. I suppose Dennis heard it, too, for he took one
bound to my side in a way that almost made me laugh to feel how ready he
was for a row. But I knew that, after all, I had no right over the man's
private affairs, warm as was my zeal for old Biddy.

"And you think I might mind my business and leave you to yours, Mr.
Macartney?" I said. "But you see your mother was very kind to me, very
kind indeed; and when I left Liverpool I promised her if ever I came
across you, you should hear of her, and she should hear of you."

"And why not?" he answered in mollified tones. "It's mighty good-natured
in ye too. But come in, all the three of ye, and have somethin' to eat
and drink for the sake of the old country."

We followed him into a back parlour, where there were several wooden
rocking-chairs, and a strong smell of stale tobacco. Here he busied
himself in producing cold meat, a squash pie, and a bottle of whisky,
and was as voluble as civil about every subject except the one