the fair of, Knockmore, and we didn't wish to meet Pugshy Roe." (Red
Peggy).

"But why should you not wish to meet her?"

"Bekaise, sir, she's unlucky--unlucky in the three ways--unlucky to man,
unlucky to baste, and unlucky to business. She overlooks, sir; she has
the Evil Eye--the Lord be about us!"

"The Evil Eye," repeated Woodward, dryly; "and pray, what harm could her
evil eye do you?"

"Why, nothing in the World," replied the man, naively, "barrin' to
wither us off o' the earth--that's all."

"Has she been long in this neighborhood?" asked the stranger.

"Too long, your honor. Sure she overlooked Biddy Nelligan's child, and
it never did good afterwards."

"And I," said another, "am indebted to the thief o' hell for the loss of
as good a cow as ever filled a piggin."

"Well, sure," observed a third, "Father Mullen is goin' to read her out
next Sunday from the althar. She has been banished from every parish in
the counthry. Indeed, I believe he's goin' to drown the candles against
her, so that, plaise the Lord, she'll have to tramp."

"How does she live and maintain herself?" asked the stranger again.