you were, and but
thirty years of age. I'm the Republican speaker, ma'am, that has been
sent to ye here. And for why? To convert ye, ma'am."

"And so you're a Republican, sir? Well, well--but, savin' your presence,
you don't look it or talk it. Sure, you're as Irish as myself!"

"I'm that Irish, ma'am, that if you were to take the Irish from out of
me it's faded and limp as a mornin'-glory at two in the afternoon I'd
be."

"And what's your name, may I ask?"

"Riley, ma'am. Timothy Joseph Riley, to be exact."

"Riley--Tim Riley! Well, you're the first Riley ever I knew was a
Republican. That thin-necked one in the bank, and that other one, the
fat-necked one in the real-estate place--sure, you don't favor them no
more than--Yet there must be good men Republicans, too. Will you have a
cuppeen o' tea? 'Tisn't much; but 'twill war-rm you, maybe, on the chill
day."

"Thank you; and 'twill taste fine--a cup o' tea on a chill day like
this. And like to be chiller, Mrs. Nolan."

"True for ye. And gen'rally I feels it; but not so to-day, sir. Mr.
Kearney gave me a dollar, sayin' it was from a stranger and I wasn't to
mention it--and I won't; but"--she shot a quick, warm glance at
Tim--"God guard the kind heart of him, whoever he is. To-morrow I'll be
orderin' some beautiful groceries with it. Tis a gran' sinsation to be
goin' into a store and orderin' things."

She stooped for her little bundle of fagots, but Tim forestalled her. He
undid them, arranged them craftily in the stove with rolls of old
newspaper beneath, and touched a match to the fire.

"There, ma'am."

"We'll have the little kittle b'ilin' in a minute now, sir."

"And what will you do against the cold winter comin', ma'am?"

"Oh, yeh! I'll do, no doubt, what I've done every winter since I come
here--live through it."

"With the cold wind coming through the wide cracks and the snow piling
high on the wintry mornings, it won't be the tightest place in the
world, ma'am."

"Thanks be to God I have it--the same little cabin!"

"Thank God you have! Whisht, ma'am"--- Tim laid a restraining hand on
hers as she spooned the tea out of the can--"you won't be leaving
yourself any at all."

"Sure, there's enough for the breakfast. And if we could always be sure
of our breakfast it's little we'd have to complain of. And now let me
get out my cups and saucers. I have two of each, thank God!"

"Let me, Mrs. Nolan--I see them."

"Well, well--but 'tis the sp