Here he had not been more than two minutes,
when he heard footsteps approaching, and on looking closely through
the darkness, he recognized the figure of Nell M'Collum, as it passed
directly to the kitchen window. Here the crone stopped, peered in, and
with caution gave one of the panes a gentle tap. This was responded
to by one much louder from within, and almost immediately the door was
softly opened. From thence issued another female figure, evidently that
of Nanse M'Collum, her niece. Both passed down the street in a northern
direction, and Lamh Laudher, apprehensive that they were on no good
errand, took off his shoes, lest his footsteps might be heard, and
dogged them as they went along. They spoke little, and that in whispers,
until they had got clear of the town, when, feeling less restraint, the
following dialogue occurred to them:--
"Isn't it a quare thing, aunt, that she should come back to this place
at all?"
"Quare enough, but the husband's comin' too--he's to folly her."
"He ought to know that he needn't come here, I think."
"Why, you fool, how do you know that? Sure the town must pay him fifty
guineas, if he doesn't get a customer, and that's worth comin' for. She
must be near us by this time. Husht! do you hear a car?"
They both paused to listen, but no car was audible.
"I do not," replied the niece; "but isn't it odd that he lets her carry
the money, an' him trates her so badly'?"
"Why would it be odd? Sure, she takes betther care of it, an' puts it
farther than he does.
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