t Aileen who suddenly
lifted her brimming eyes to hers.--What Mrs. McCann read therein she
never accurately defined, even to Jim; but, whatever it was, it caused a
revulsion of feeling in Maggie's sorely bruised heart. She set Billy
down on the floor without any ceremony, much to that little man's
surprise, and throwing her arms around Aileen drew her close with a
truly maternal caress.

"Och, darlin'--darlin'--" she said in the voice with which she soothed
Billy to sleep, "darlin' Aileen, an' has your puir heart been bearin'
this all alone, an' me talkin' an' pratin' about me Jim to ye, an' how
beautiful it is to be married!--'Deed an' it is, darlin', an' if Jim
wasn't a man he'd be an angel sure; but it's not Maggie McCann that's
wantin' her husband to be an angel yet, an' you must just forgive him,
Aileen, an' you'll find yerself that no man's parfection, an' a woman
has to be after takin' thim as they be--lovin' an' gentle be times, an'
cross as Cain whin yer expectin' thim to be swateheartin' wid ye; an'
wake when ye think they're after bein' rale giants; an' strong whin
ye're least lookin' for it; an ginerous by spells an' spendthrifts wid
their 'baccy, an' skinflints wid their own, an'--an'--just common,
downright aggravatin', lovable men, darlin'--There now! Yer smilin'
again like me old Aileen, an' bad cess to the wan that draws another
tear from your swate Irish eyes." She kissed her heartily.

In trying to make amends Mrs. McCann forgot her own woes; taking Billy
in her arms, she went to the stove and set on the kettle.

"It's four past, an' Jim'll be comin' in tired and worritted, so I'll
put on an extra potater or two an' a good bit of bacon an' some pase.
Stay wid us, Aileen."

"No, Maggie, I can't; besides you and Jim will want the house to
yourself till you get straightened out--and, Maggie, it _will_
straighten out, don't you worry."

"'Deed, an' I'll not waste me breath another time tellin' me troubles to
a heart that's sorer than me own--good-bye, darlin', an' me best thanks
for comin' up so prompt to me in me trouble. It's good to have a friend,
Aileen, an' we've been friendly that long that it seems as if me own
burden must be yours."

Aileen smiled, leaning to kiss Billy as he clung to his mother's neck.

"I'll come up whenever you want me and I can get away, Maggie, an' next
time I'll bring you more comfort, I hope. Good-bye."

"Och, darlin'!--T'row a kiss, Billy. Look, Aileen, at the kis