afther
forgetting my big aperon upstairs, an' if I go an' black my best dress
me a'nt 'ull be the death o' me."

"Aisy now, don't be tormentin' yourself that way," cried Pat
soothingly. "Sure I'll just go along wid ye into the kitchen, an' if I
don't have that kettle bilin' in next to no time my name's not Pat
Rooney. It's me that's used to fires--ye'll see how I'll blow up yours
for ye, miss. There now, wasn't it by the greatest good luck I looked
in this mornin' to pick up my pipe that I left down below in the
bakehouse? Cheer up, Miss Elleney--we'll not be keepin' them long
waitin' for their breakfasts now."

Even while speaking the young baker had preceded the girl into the
kitchen, possessed himself of the bellows, and blown up the fire; he
now deftly dropped an entire basketful of eggs into a saucepan, and,
with a large loaf in one hand and a knife in the other, began with
almost incredible speed to cut off thick rounds.

"I suppose ye have the cloth laid?" he inquired presently.

"Me cousin Henerietta does that; I only has the breakfast itself to
get, an' there's not much trouble in that, on'y I'm such a slowcoach,
an' someway--I don't know how it was--my wits went wool-gatherin' this
mornin'."

"Well, I'll tell ye what, miss; if ye'll wet the tay an' pop the pot
down on the hob, the eggs 'ull be done, an' by the time ye have them
brought in the bread 'ull be toasted illigant. Herself won't know ye,
the way ye'll have got up the breakfast so quick."

"I'm very thankful to ye, Pat," said Elleney gratefully. "I'm sure I
don't know what in the world I'd have done without ye. But it's too
bad to be givin' ye all that trouble."

"Not at all, miss; no trouble at all. Sure I wouldn't have it on me
conscience for you to be roastin' that lovely face off o' yourself at
this terrible hot fire. The egg-cups is there on the shelf behind
ye--I can see them from here. There now, sure ye have it all
grand--wait till I open the door for ye. Now I'll have the loveliest
lot o' toast ready for ye when ye come back. That thray's too heavy
for ye entirely--it's a poor case altogether that I haven't got
another pair o' hands."

Elleney's gay little laugh trilled out again, and she shot a glance of
confiding gratitude from under her thick dark lashes in the direction
of the young baker which set the honest fellow's heart dancing, though
he well knew how little such innocent warmth meant.

"God bless her," he murmured as he