go, Aunt Katie," said Kathleen. "I want you
very badly indeed just now."

"Then, my sweet child, come straight away with me to Dublin; for as to
leaving Peggy in her hour of extremity, I wouldn't do it even for you,
Kathleen, and that's saying a good deal."

"But how can I come? I have my society and--and the school."

"Well, then, stay, love; only don't keep me now. Good-bye to you, pet; I
haven't a minute to lose--Tom--is that your name?--go out and tell the
messenger that I will go back with him to Merrifield."

"And what about my almshouse?" screamed out Mrs. Church. "This is a nice
state of things, I must say. Who minds what a slip of a young lady
says?--meaning no offence to you, miss; but I have been spending my
money right and left, getting tea that beats all for gentility, and now
one of the ladies is off as it were in a flash of an eye. What about my
almshouse?"

Miss O'Flynn looked rather indignant.

"You shall have your almshouse if it can be got. How unfeeling you are
to think only of yourself when my dearest friend may be at death's door.
Here's a sovereign, which will more than cover the expenses of the
tea.--Good-bye, Kathleen, core of my heart.--Good-bye, all of you."

Miss O'Flynn flung a sovereign on the table. Mrs. Church made a grab at
it, and held it tightly in her hand, which was covered by a black
mitten. The next moment the good lady had departed, and Kathleen,
looking thoroughly bewildered, was left alone.

"Dear, dear!" she said. "Yet I am an Irish girl, and I'm not going to
show funk. There are all those poor girls waiting in the yard so long. I
will go to them at once. Come with me, Susy."

There were about forty girls in the yard, and they sat close together.
The night was sufficiently cold to make them somewhat chill, and the
fears which little Janey Ford had put into their hearts began to grow
greater and more fixed each moment. When Kathleen appeared all was
immediately changed. Susy preceded her, carrying the little paraffin
lamp. This was placed on the table which was arranged in the yard for
the purpose, and its light fell now on the vivid coloring and beautiful
face of the Irish girl. She took off her favorite blue velvet cap and
pushed her hand through her masses of radiant hair, and then flung
herself into what she was pleased to call an attitude, but which was
really a very graceful and natural pose. Then she said, speaking aloud:

"Girls of the society, Wild Irish Girl