i 75f9a7096d34cea0 by Unknown Read Free Book Online

their cottage or shanty, himself takes them in until they pull themselves together and go off to the Americas or come to England here. But God knows why they want to come--`
    `Maggie Ann!`
    `Yes ... Yes ... Miss ... Moira.` The words were spaced out and the large head bobbed. Then, with her usual impulsive movement, she swivelled round on the stool, saying, `Tell them that piece of poetry you wrote about the rain coming through the whole place. It's a funny one.` Maggie Ann was nodding now to Daniel, and she went on, `She makes up all these. Split your sides sometimes. Then when the mood's on her she makes up ones that have you cryin'. Oh begod! she has a funny mind, has our Miss Moira.`
    `Will you shut your mouth, Maggie Ann, or
    you'll be left on your own for the rest of the night.`
    `Do you really make up poetry, Moira?àsked Pattie.
    `Not poetry, dear, just silly rhymes.`
    `Go on, Miss Moira, do that one that you did when you were but a lass, an' you called it, "When I was Young". Go on.`
    When Moira made no response Daniel said politely, `Do say it, Moira. I'd like to hear it, and Pattie would too. Wouldn't you, Pattie?` Pattie glanced at him; then, turning to her stepmother, she paused for a moment before she said simply, `Yes.Àt this Moira laughed, then said, `Well, here goes! You've asked for it;ànd at this she struck a pose that gave her a child-like appearance, and began:
    `We lived in a house at the top of the hill: There wasn't much roof on that old house, but still We all had buckets when the rain poured through; Mine was an old one but my father's was new. Mama carried hers on the top of her head, It was very awkward when she was in bed; The handle would keep dangling under her chin,
    Until it was fastened with a safety pin. 59 I always put mine on top of my chest, To catch all the big drops, I thought it was
    best; And when it was full it overflowed And tumbled down the stairs and into the road. Papa's bucket was always kept in the shed; For it's the best place for a bucket, he said, Not stuck on top of your head or on your chest; Fancy being caught like that while in your vest.`
    Daniel laughed, Maggie Ann laughed, and even Pattie managed a smile. And now she asked, `Did it really pour through the roof in every room?`
    `Yes,` Moira nodded at her, ìn every bedroom, that is, and into the kitchen quarters too, because that part was stuck on the end of the house and was just a single storey.`
    Ìt must have been very uncomfortable.`
    Ìt was,` said Moira; `but it was a diversion and it afforded a topic of conversation.` She wasn't smiling now as she spoke, and consequently had Pattie's whole attention and, apparently for the first time, her interest, for the girl
    asked her, `What did you do with your time? Did you work on the farm?`
    Òh, it was no farm.` Moira was about to go on when Maggie Ann put in, `'Twas that. 'Twas a farm: we had a cow that gave good milk; and a litter of pigs every year, and ducks, and hens. And there was fish in the brook.`
    Ìt still wasn't a farm.` Moira's voice was flat.
    `Well, how did you live? How did you make money?`
    `My brothers married and moved into the town where they worked. So there were only my parents and myself and Maggie Ann here. So we lived well, but plainly.`
    Ì thought you were rich.Às Daniel exclaimed, `Pattie!` Moira said, Òh, it's all right, it's all right, it was a straight question. And now, Pattie, I'll give you a straight answer. We aren't rich but we're expecting to be; at least, if not rich, then pretty warm.`
    Ìt's Aunt Mattie that has the money.Ìt was Maggie Ann butting in again. `You saw her at the weddin'.
    She's himself's aunt, Mr
    Conelly that is, and she married a very warm 61 man in Dublin, where she lives in a nice house, a very nice house.` She nodded now. Ànd she has neither kith nor kin except Miss Moira's father. But Miss Moira here has always been her favourite and it has been an understood thing she'll come into her fortune. It's in a