death sometimes."

"What are you afraid off?" he asked.

"I'm feared a' ghosts an' Kidnappers, an' Skyan the Bugler, an' the
buggy boo an' the banshee, an' when I'm a bad girl I'm awful feared a'
the divil."

"Surely that is a rare occurrence?" said Mr M'Keown.

Honeybird did not understand. "Aren't ye feared a' them things?" she
asked.

"Not in the least," he replied.

"I'll hould ye ye're feared robbers'll come an' steal all yer stockin's
full of gold," she said.

"My stockings full of gold!" he repeated, looking puzzled.

"Teressa sez ye've got hapes an' hapes a' them," she said.

"I am afraid they only exist in Theresa's imagination," he said. "I
have not got one stocking full of gold."

Honeybird stared. "Then ye haven't got one to give away?" she faltered.

Mr M'Keown sat up in his chair, and made a crackling noise in his
throat, that grew more distinct, till at last Honeybird realised that
he was laughing.

"I have not laughed for ten years," he said, smiling at her.

She tried to smile back, but her eyes were full of tears.

"Did you expect me to give you a stocking full of gold?" he said.

"'Deed, I did," she said sadly. "I was tould to come an' ast ye for
it."

Mr M'Keown frowned. "Ah," he said; "so it was not simplicity?"

"No; it was a hape a' money," she said.

"Perhaps you can tell me the exact sum?"

"'Deed, I can," she said; "it was just ten pounds."

"Ten pounds! What madness!" he exclaimed. "And, pray, is it to build
a new chapel or to convert the Jews that you have been sent to beg such
a sum?"

"It's just to make Tom Kelly better," she said, the tears running down
her cheeks. "He's goin' to die, and Mrs Kelly's buried eight a' them,
and Jane sez she's heart bruk, and Doctor Dixey sez ten pounds'll cure
him."

Mr M'Keown coughed. "Did Doctor Dixey send you to beg for the money?"
she said.

She shook her head.

"Perhaps it was Father Ryan or Mr Rannigan?"

Again she shook her head.

"Was it your sister?"

"'Deed, it wasn't Jane, for she just hates ye; she always says ye're an
ould miser, an' ye'd skin a flint."

"I am sorry that my conduct does not meet with her approval," Mr
M'Keown said. "But I shall be glad if you will tell me to whom I am
indebted for the honour of your visit."

Honeybird looked at him. She did not understand what he meant.

"Who sent you here?" he said.

"Almighty God tould me to come," she said.

"Almighty God?" he said. "I