Campbell, bitterly: “Well, Agnes, for a
woman that’s set so many people by the ears,
you let yourself up pretty easily. By Jove! here
comes that fellow back again!” They all mechanically
shrink aside, and leave Roberts exposed to the approach
of McIlheny.
McIlheny: “Now, sor, me thrain’s
gahn, and we can talk this little matter oover at
our aise. What did ye mane, sor, by comin’
up to the Hannorable Mrs. Michael McIlheny and askun’
her if she was a cuke? Did she luke like a person
that’d demane herself to a manial position like
that? Her that never put her hands in wather,
and had hilpers to milk her father’s cows?
What did ye mane, sor? Did she luke like a lady,
or did she luke like a cuke? Tell me that!”
The Cook, bursting upon him from behind Roberts, who
eagerly gives place to her: “I’ll
tell ye that meself, ye impidint felly! What’s
to kape a cuke from lukun’ like a lady, or a
lady from lukun’ like a cuke? Ah, Mike
McIlheny, ye drunken blaggurd, is it me ye’re
tellin’ that Mary Molloy never put her hands
in wather, and kept hilpers to milk her father’s
cows! Cows indade! It was wan pig under the
bed; and more shame to them that’s ashamed to
call it a pig, if ye are my cousin! I’m
the lady the gentleman was lukin’ for, and if
ye think I’m not as good as Mary Molloy the
best day she ever stipped, I’ll thank ye to
tell me who is. Be off wid ye, or I’ll say
something ye’ll not like to hear!”
McIlheny: “Sure I was jokin’, Maggie!
I was goun’ to tell the gintleman that if he
was lukun’ for a cuke, I’d a cousin out
of place that was the best professed cuke in Bahston.
And I’m glad he’s got ye: and he’s
a gintleman every inch, and so’s his lady, I
dar’ say, though I haven’t the pleasure
of her acquaintance—”
The Colored Man who calls the Trains: “Cars
ready for West Newton, Auburndale, Riverside, Wellesley,
Natick, and South Framingham. Train for South
Framingham. Express to West Newton. Track
No. 5.”
Mrs. Roberts: “That’s our train,
Amy’ We get off at Auburndale. Willis,
Edward, Maggie—come!” They all rush
out, leaving McIlheny alone.
McIlheny, looking thoughtfully after them: “Sure,
I wonder what Mary’ll be wantun’ me to
ask um next!”
