en he'd look round
at Bridget, 'She's got a nice bit o' money,' he'd say, 'but she's a
bit too old for me.' An' then he'd look at me, 'A nice healthy lump of
a girl,' he'd say, 'but too many freckles.' An' then Maggie maybe 'ud
have a turn--"

"Och, don't be goin' on with such nonsense, child," interrupted her
mother, quick to observe certain tokens of an impending storm. "Don't
let him find yez quarrellin' an' fightin' when he does be comin' back.
Wait till I tell yez all he's afther tellin' me about his own place. I
questioned him a bit afore yez come down."

The girls crowded eagerly round her, and she repeated with unction the
description of the various glories which awaited the future Mrs. Brian
Brennan.

Every one had forgotten Elleney and her little bit of dinner; every
one, that is, except the new-comer, who, after casting a nervous
glance at the parlour window on finding himself outside the house, had
made straightway for the almost deserted shop.

Customers were not many at that hour of the day, and Elleney had only
sold a pound of bacon and a couple of bootlaces since her aunt's
departure. She was sorting ribbons with a somewhat melancholy face
when Brian passed through the glass door and made his way to the
counter.

"Is that where ye have yourself hidden?" he inquired gaily. "They
thought to keep ye shut up out o' me sight, but I was a match for them
as cute as they were. 'Twas a shame for them not to let you come in to
dinner."

"Sure somebody had to mind the shop," returned Elleney. Then her
little pink and white face dimpled all over with smiles. "Have ye
chose yet, Mr. Brian?" said she.

"Bedad, I think I have," quoth Brian, gazing at her admiringly.

Elleney clapped her hands. "Oh dear, is it Juliana?"

"It's not Juliana, then," said he. "Is that the big one with the
top-knot? Sure, what sort of taste d'ye think I have?"

"It wouldn't be Bridget!" cried she, laughing till every little white
tooth was visible.

"That's a bad shot--I'm afeard ye're no hand at guessin'."

"I wished it was Nanny," said Elleney earnestly; "she's the
best-hearted girl in the world."

"You wished it was her, do ye? Well, I'm sorry I can't gratify ye. My
choice was made before I ever set eyes on e'er a one of them."

"Then ye'd no call to come here at all," interrupted Elleney
indignantly.

"Whisht! Don't be bitin' the nose off me that way. Ye little schemer,
ye know very well it's yerself that carries all