While the poor woman in question was drinking the warm milk--the very
best restorative by the way which she could get--for poverty is mostly
forced to find out its own humble comforts--Father Roche entered the
kitchen, buttoned up and prepared for the journey. On looking at her he
seemed startled by the scantiness of her dress on such a morning--and
when she rose up at his entrance and dropped him a curtesy, exclaiming,
"God save you, Father!"--at the same time swallowing down the remainder
of the milk that she might not lose a moment; he cast his eye round the
kitchen to see whether she had actually come in the dress she wore.

"How far have you come this morning, my poor woman?" he inquired.

"From the ride of the Sliebeen More Mountains, plaise your reverence."

"What, in your present dress! without shoe or stocking?"

"True enough, sir; but indeed it was little the cowld, or sleet, or
frost, troubled me."

"Yes, God help you, I can believe that too--for I understand the cause
of it too well--but have hope--Katty, what was that you gave her?"

"A mouthful of warm milk, your reverence, to put the cowld out of her
heart."

"Ah, Katty, I wish we could put sorrow and affliction out of it--but
you did well and right in the meantime; still you must do better, Katty,
lend her your cloak--and your shoes and stockings too, poor thing!"

"I'm oblaged to your reverence," she replied, "but indeed I won't
feel the want of them; as I said, there's only one thought that I am
suffering about--and that is, for your reverence to see my husband
before he departs."

"Yes--but the consequences of this cold and bitter journey may fall
upon you at another time--and before long, too--so be advised by me, and
don't refuse to take them."

"It's not aisy to do that, sir," she replied with a faint smile, for as
she spoke, his servant had the cloak already about her shoulders; "it
appears," she continued, "that this kind woman must have her will and
way in everything."

"To be sure I will," said Katty, "espishially in everything that's
right, any how--come here now, and while his reverence is getting his
staff and mittens in the room above, I'll help you on with the shoes and
stockings. Now," she added, in one of those touching and irresistible
whispers that are produced by kindness and not by secrecy, "if anything
happens--as God forbid there should--but if anything does happen, keep
these till afther everything is over. Before stra