jections he could run out on an early train some mornin'
an' pay his respects to yourself an' the girls an' he can be tellin'
ye all about our place an' his prospects in life he's the only son I
have an' its a good farm an' a comfortable house an' many a girl would
think she was doin' well for herself so hopin' you'll think well of
the idea I will say no more this time yours ancettery, TIMOTHY
BRENNAN. P.S.--My son Brian is six foot high an' has a beautiful head
of hair he is very--' What in the name o' fortun' is that word,
m'mah?"

"Hearty, is it?" said Mrs. McNally, craning her short neck. "No--happy,
maybe--no, that's not it. _Healthy_, that's it! 'He is very healthy.'"

"Laws!" said Henrietta, "that's a quare thing to be sayin'. Who cares
whether he's healthy or not?"

"A-ah, me dear," returned her mother sagely, "when ye get to my age
ye'll know it makes a great deal o' differ--especially to a farmer.
The poor d'da! Rest his soul!--well, well, we won't be talkin' o' them
times, but he was a great sufferer; an' if it was a farmer he was the
house wouldn't have held him. It's a terrible thing for a poor farmer
to be tryin' to go about his place, an' him not gettin' his health.
I'm glad this young fellow is healthy."

"Six foot!" commented Matilda, who was inclined to be sentimental.

"A beautiful head of hair," exclaimed Anna Maria, with a giggle.
"Troth, if it's me he takes a fancy to I'll be combin' it for him."

"Well," said Juliana indignantly, "I think ye're takin' too much on
yourself, Nanny, to go pickin' him up that way. There's others has a
better right to be considered first."

"You're the oldest, of course," said Anna Maria meekly.

"There's others older nor her, though," burst out Bridget.

"The oldest daughter has the first claim," cried Juliana, with
heightened colour.

"To be sure, to be sure," said Mrs. McNally nervously. She was very
much in awe of her firstborn, who was indeed possessed of a
considerable amount of determination. "The young man, of course, 'ull
make his own choice, but I must say I think it 'ud be only becoming if
it was Ju."

Juliana glanced triumphantly round on the row of crestfallen faces,
and a sudden silence fell, during which Elleney, who had stood
listening with deep interest, suddenly remembered the now sodden toast
and handed it dutifully round.

Maggie Nolan's eyes met hers in wrathful protest as she helped
herself.

"Did ye ever see sich a girl as Ju?" s