walked up and down the room, and they talked over Kate's wilful
character.

"From the beginning she did not like living at home," said the
priest.

"I don't care about living at home," said Ned.

"But for a different reason," remarked the priest. "You want to
leave home to get married, and have a wife and children, if God is
pleased to give you children."

Kate had been in numerous services, and the priest sat thinking of
the stories he had heard. He had heard that Kate had come back
from her last situation in a cab, wrapped up in blankets, saying
she was ill. On inquiry it was found that she had only been three
or four days in her situation; three weeks had to be accounted
for. He had questioned her himself regarding this interval, but
had not been able to get any clear and definite answer from her.

"She and mother never stop quarrelling about Pat Connex."

"It appears," said the priest, "that your mother went out with a
jug of porter under her apron, and offered a sup of it to Pat
Connex, who was talking with Peter M'Shane, and now he is up at
your cabin every Saturday."

"That's it," said Ned.

"Mrs. Connex was here the other day, and I can tell you that if