ward glance at Elleney; but Mrs. McNally clutched him by the arm,
looking so much disturbed the while, that the words died on his lips,
and he suffered himself to be drawn along the passage and into the
parlour. The others also melted away with many scornful murmurs and
withering glances, all except Nanny, who hurled herself round the
counter and caught Elleney in her arms.

[Illustration: ELLENEY
"With his impident arm round Elleney's waist"]

"Ye poor misfortunate innicent!" she exclaimed. "Why didn't ye tell
him ye weren't rightly one o' the family?"

"He didn't give me time," faltered Elleney; adding with more spirit,
"Besides, what matter if it's me he likes the best?"

"Bless us an' save us!" groaned Nanny; "sure how can ye get married
when ye haven't so much as a one pound note o' your own?"

"Do you think he didn't know?" gasped Elleney, looking very blank.

"Not a know," responded Nanny, with decision. "My mother had a right
to have told him, but some way not one of us dreamed of him thinkin'
of you. Sure, girl alive, if _he_ was willin' itself, his father 'ud
never agree to his havin' ye."

"I s'pose not," said Elleney; "but ye don't know all he's afther
sayin' to me, Nanny."

"Och, divil doubt him!" exclaimed Nanny, with a vexed laugh. "Sure,
that's the way they all does be goin' on. If ye had more sense,
Elleney, me dear, ye'd know how to be up to them. Whisht!--here's
m'mah!"

Poor Mrs. McNally's heavy foot was now heard hastening along the
passage, and in another minute she entered--alone, her kind face was
all puckered up with concern, and at first sight of it Elleney knew
exactly how matters stood. She disengaged herself from Nanny and went
quietly up to her aunt.

"I hope you explained to him that I didn't rightly understand what he
was sayin'," she observed with a certain childish dignity that took
the others by surprise. "It was all a mistake, of course, but there's
no great harm done."

"Not a bit of harm at all, me dear," groaned Mrs. McNally. "Not a bit
of harm in the world--only for the disappointment."

"No disappointment," returned Elleney; her eyes were steady, though
that red under-lip of hers would quiver; "no disappointment, a'nt, I
hope. He'll be sure to pick out one of the girls, won't he?"

"I b'lieve so," answered Mrs. McNally, propping herself against the
counter. "He's afther tellin' me his father 'ud be the death of him
if--"

"Sure that's all right," interrupted he