g still by this time, and when Michael stopped talking about
America they jumped up. The children ran outdoors and played tag around
Grannie's house, and the older people stayed inside.

By and by Grannie came to the door and called them. "Come in, every one
of you," she cried, "and have a fine bit of cake with currants in it!
Sure, Michael brought the currants and all the things for to make it
yesterday, thinking maybe there'd be neighbours in. And maybe 'tis the
last bit of cake I'll be making for you at all, for 'tis but two weeks
now until we start across the water." She wiped her eyes on her apron.

Mr McQueen was very quiet as he walked home with Mrs McQueen and the
Twins. And that evening, after the children were in bed, he sat for a
long time silent, with his pipe in his mouth. His pipe went out and he
did not notice it. By and by he said to Mrs McQueen, "I've made up my
mind--"

"The Lord save us! To what?" said Mrs McQueen.

"To go to America," said Mr McQueen.

Mrs McQueen hid her face in her hands and rocked back and forth and
cried. "To be leaving the place I was born, and where my father and
mother were born before me, and all the neighbours, and this old house
that's been home since ever I married you--'twill break the heart in my
body," she said.

"I like that part of it no better than yourself," said Mr McQueen, "but
when I think of the years to come, and Larry and Eileen growing up to
work as hard as we have worked without getting much at all, and think of
the better chance altogether they'll have over there, sure, I can't be
thinking of the pain, but only of the hope there is in it for them."

"I've seen this coming ever since the children told us about Grannie
Malone's letter," said Mrs McQueen. "'Tis Michael has put this in your
head."

"'Tis not Michael alone," said Mr McQueen; "'tis also other things.
To-morrow I pay Conroy the rent money. And it will take all that the
pig brought and all I've been able to rake and scrape myself, and
nothing left over at all. And there's but ourselves and the Twins, and
the year has not been a bad one. We have had the pig, which we wouldn't
be having another year. And what would it be like if there were more of
us to feed, and no more pigs to be found in the bog like manna from
Heaven, to be helping us out?"

"Sure, if it's for the children," sobbed Mrs McQueen, "I'd go anywhere
in the world, and that you know well."

"I do know it," said