EFFIE'S SECRET 97 



her soundness in wind and limb to the full satis- 

 faction of her sire, " what do you think of that? " 



" But how did you find it out? " asked the 

 astonished man. 



" She told me it as a secret." 



" But why didn't she tell anyone else, with a 

 whole houseful of people to tell, this three years 

 and more? " 



" She did, but no one would believe her — would 

 they, Effie? " 



" No," repHed Effie. 



" You told IVIrs Driscoll over and over again you 

 could walk, and what did she say to you? " 



" She told me to ' hold my whisht and not to be 

 talking nonsense.' She said she'd give me to the 

 black man that lives in the oven if I put a foot to 

 the ground; and I told papa I was all right and 

 could walk if they'd let me, and he only laughed, 

 and told me not to be getting ideas in my head." 



" Faith, and that's the truth," said her papa. 

 " I thought it was only her fancies." 



" Well," said Miss Grimshaw, " I examined her 

 back this morning, and there is nothing wrong 

 with it. Her legs are all right; she's in good 

 health, well — where's your invalid? " 



"Faith, I don't know," saidFrench. "This beats 



Bannagher." He went to the bell and pulled it. 



" Send up Mrs Driscoll, " said the master of Drum- 



gool. " Send up Mrs Driscoll. And what are you 



standing therewith your mouth hanging open for ? " 



" Sure, Miss Effie, and what are you doin' off the 



