will come over and go with me--won't you?"

"Oh! I wish I could."

"But why can't you? Don't let us worry about fathers and mothers.
We're a pair of girls, and must have our own larks. There's Neil and
there's Mike; they will get the boat all ready, and we can start off
for the cave just when the tide is high; we can only get in then.
We'll run the boat in as far as it will go, and we'll see what we'll
see. You will come--won't you, Nora?"

"I should like it of all things in the world," said Nora.

"Well, why not? You can come over tomorrow afternoon, and stay the
night here. Just say that I have asked you."

"But mother does not much like my sleeping out."

"You mean that she does not like you to sleep at the house of the
wild Murphys--that's what you mean, Nora. Then, get away; I don't
want to force my company on you. I am as good as any other girl in
Ireland; I have the blood of the old Irish kings in my veins; but if
you are too proud to come, why----"

"I am not, and you know it," said Nora; "but mother is an Englishwoman,
and she thinks we are all a little rough, you and I into the bargain.
All the same, I'll come to-morrow. I do want to explore that cave. Yes,
I'll come if you give me a proper invitation before mother."

"Oh, mercy me!" said the girl, "must I go back to the house? I am so