she saw him, would chase him from the
kitchen when the news began; and clearly Teressa was bringing news
worth hearing. As far back as Patsy or any of the children could
remember, Teressa had brought the village gossip to Rowallan. Neither
rain nor storm could keep the old woman back when there was news to
tell. One thing only--a dog in her path--had power to turn her aside.
The quietest dog sent her running like a hare, and the most obviously
imitated bark made her cry.

She came in, shaking the rain from her shawl.

"Woman, dear, but that's the saft day. I'm dreepin' to the marrow
bone."

"What an' iver brought ye out?" said Lull shortly.

Teressa sank into a chair, and wiped her wet face with the corner of
her apron. "'Deed, ye may weel ast me. My grandson was for stoppin'
me, but says I to myself, says I, the mistress be to hear this before
night."

"She'll hear no word of it, then," said Lull. "She's sleepin' sound,
an' I'd cut aff my han' afore I'd wake her for any ould clash."

Teressa paid no heed. "Such carryin's-on, Lull, I niver seen. Mrs
M'Rea, the woman, she bates Banagher. She's drunk as much whiskey
these two days as would destroy a rigiment, an' now she has the whole
village up with her talk."

"Andy was tellin' me she was at it again," said Lull.

"Och, I wisht ye'd see her," said Teressa. "She was neither to bind
nor to stay. An' the tongue of her. Callin' us a lock a' papishes an'
fenians! Sure, she was sittin' on Father Ryan's dour-step till past
twelve o'clock wavin' an or'nge scarf, an' singin' 'Clitter Clatter,
Holy Watter.'"

"Dear help us," said Lull.

"'Deed, I'm sayin' it," said Teressa. "An when his riverence come out
to her it was nothin' but a hape of abuse, an' to hell wid the Pope,
that she give him."

"That's forty shillin's an' costs if the polis heard her," said Patsy,
forgetting he was in hiding.

Teressa jumped. "Lord love ye, did ye iver hear the like a' that?" she
said. "It's a wee ould man the chile is."

"Be off wid ye, Patsy," said Lull; "what call has the likes a' yous to
know that?" But Patsy wanted to hear more.

"What did Father Ryan say to her, Teressa?" he asked.

"Troth, he tould her she'd be in hell herself before the Pope for all
her cursin'," said Teressa.

"An' will she?" said Patsy.

"As sure as an egg's mate," said Teressa. "If she doesn't give over
drinkin' the ould gentleman's comin' for her one of these fine nights
to ta