AN UNCATHOLIC COOK. 193 



to time," and had left nothing on her part undone, that 

 could give effect to the ceremonial. Miss Currigan, with a 

 step and bearing that might silence slander, advanced under 

 the direction of the otter-killer: like a maid "in the 

 pride of her purity," she devoutly placed her hand upon 

 the skull and Andy Bawn was made a happy man for 

 ever ! 



That the saints are often and scandalously overreached 

 by sinners, is a fact which must be admitted and lamented. 

 One case of base dishonesty has but recently occurred in 

 the establishment of my cousin. A cook, whom he had 

 procured through the agency of a friend, has proved a 

 heavy defaulter, and, as Antony says, " scandalized the 

 family." For a considerable time her conduct was unques- 

 tionable : she went regularly to mass, gave half- a- crown at 

 Easter, never missed confessions, and, better still, conducted 

 the culinary department with excellent propriety, so much 

 so, that Father Andrew declared from the altar, that she was 

 an exemplary artiste, and a capital Christian. " Frailty, 

 thy name is woman !" This paragon of cooks levanted one 

 frosty night with a travelling pedler ? Then, and not till then, 

 was the dark side of her character exhibited. " She did not 

 value Lent a traneein had shared a rasher with Sir Charles's 

 man upon a blessed Friday and, if a skillet went astray, she 

 would promise a pilgrimage to the Reek for its recovery, with- 

 out the least intention of ever laying a leg upon that blessed 

 hill." 



The morning after her disappearance, her sins were freely 

 canvassed in the kitchen. "The Lord forgive her !" said the 

 keeper, "for I can't ; she treated the young dogs abominably. 

 Spot will lose a claw ; and I am sure it was Sibby, the devil 

 speed her ! that scalded him." 



" She could hide a quart of spirits, and it would never show 

 upon her," cried Pattigo. 



" She was mighty dangerous in a house," exclaimed the 

 black-eyed chamber-maid ; "I never settled the master's 

 room, but she was sure to pass the window." 



" She's gone," said the otter-killer ; " there's wxDrse in the 

 north than Sibby. Many a good bowl of broth she gave 

 me. Tho she mur tho she ; agus neil she gun lought.* She was 



* Anylice, " She is as she is ; but she's not without her fault." 



