whole and sound, you will be quite safe to live for ten more years.
They say nothing can send you out of the world; not sickness, nor
accidents, nor fire, nor water; but the second year you are liable to
an accident, and the year after to a misfortune; then in the fourth
year your luck turns--in the fourth year you find gold, in the fifth
year health, in the sixth year beauty. Oh, I would give anything to
be beautiful!"

"You are very well as you are, Biddy."

"Very well as I am? What nonsense! Look at my turned-up nose." Here
Biddy pressed her finger on the feature in question.

"It looks very racy," answered Nora.

"Bedad, then, it does that," replied Biddy. "I believe I got it
sound and safe from one of the old----"

"You needn't go on," cried Nora. "I know what you are going to say."

"And why shouldn't I say it? You would be proud enough to be
descended from----"

"Oh, I have a very fine descent of my own," answered Nora, with spirit.

"Now, if I was like you," began Biddy, "wouldn't I be proud, just?
But dear, dear! there never were two Irish girls farther asunder as
far as appearance goes. See here, let me describe myself, feature by
feature. Oh, here's a clear pool. I can get a glimpse of myself in
it. You come and look in too, Nora. Now, then, we can see ourselves.