COMMUTER'S WIFE 163 



together wid the words the old woman spoke the day, 

 they're a-walkin' reckless near home/ 'Look, mother, 

 for the love o' heaven, they're a-goin' in ! Dalia 

 t'reatened to have it out, and there'll be music for sure.' 



" And widout another word, us two, being o' wan 

 moind, clipped out in the shed that commands Doo- 

 lan's premises through a knot-hole that Katie's 

 enlarged a bit for convaynience. But I hadn't got 

 me best eye placed comfortable, the doctor, bless 

 him, knows well the trouble I had wid me off eye, 

 when something flew out o' Doolan's front door, dasht 

 boy, and up the lane to the turnpoike. 



" When I got me soight straight, I saw it was them 

 three all a-sprintin' for dear loife. Patsy was a 

 leadin', Dalia a-followin', givin' him her mind for 

 outrunnin' her. Old Mrs. Doolan, a lashin' the air 

 wid a big broom, was but a step in the rear. 



" ' But there'll be murther done,' says I to Katie, 

 and we shlipt down the road behind the cedar 

 bushes. In that we was dishappointed, for just be- 

 fore they all reached the turn, Dalia passed Patsy, 

 givin' him a terrible cuff, and callin', ' Take that, 

 ye quakin' bowl o' mush ! ' that he stumbled and 

 fell into the ditch, from which Mrs. Doolan had him 

 out in an eyewink, and was leadin' him home by the 

 ear like a sthrayed pig. 



