do not understand."

"I ast Him to let me fin' the money to cure Tom Kelly. An' I said me
prayers three times for luck. An' when I was gettin' into bed the last
time Almighty God just said in a wee whisper: 'Ould Mister M'Keown's
the boy.'" Her disappointment was so bitter that she could not stop
crying.

"Did you tell this to anyone?" Mr M'Keown asked.

"I didn't tell a sowl. I got Lull to tie on me Sunday hood, 'an' came
here as quick as quick." For some time neither spoke. Mr M'Keown was
walking up and down the room. Honeybird was sniffing, and wiping her
eyes on her pinafore. At last Mr M'Keown came back to his chair.
"Will you tell it to me all over again?" he said.

"I'll tell ye all from the start," she said. "Jane said Tom Kelly was
goin' to die, and Fly said Doctor Dixey could cure him, 'cause he took
the ulsters out a' her throat. An' Doctor Dixey come, an' sez he: 'I
can make him better with ten pounds,' sez he, 'an' if yous can fin' the
money I'll fin' the ship.":

"What is the matter with this Tom?" Mr M'Keown interrupted.

"He's got consumption. An' we thought an' thought, an' Jane ast Lull
to pawn our Sunday clothes. An' Lull said they weren't worth more'n a
pound. An' when we went to bed I prayed like anythin', an' Almighty
God tould me to come here." She got up, and held out her hand. "I may
as well be sayin' good-mornin' to ye, Mister M'Keown," she said.

Mr M'Keown took her hand, but did not let it go again. "Perhaps
Almighty God did not tell you to come to me," he said.

"'Deed, He did," she said, trying to swallow a sob; "but mebby He was
just makin' fun a' me."

"Certainly I have not got stockings full of gold," Mr M'Keown said.

"Well, I was thinkin' ye had," she said.

"Ten pounds!" he murmured, looking into the fire. Then he got up from
his chair.

"Will you wait here by the fire till I come back?" he said, and went
out of the room.

Honeybird-sat down again. Her heart was heavy. She had pictured to
herself how she would go home with the stocking full of gold, and how
glad the others would be when they saw the money, and knew that Tom
Kelly could be cured. But now she must go back empty-handed. Mr
M'Keown was gone such a long time that she grew tired of waiting, and
got up to go home. But before she reached the door it opened, and he
came in. He had something in his hand.

"Come here," he said, and, to her astonishment, he laid on the table a
handful of