"Indeed!" said I, with some pique, "well meaning creatures, useful about a house." Miss Vernon laughed, "I see you would prefer being dreaded by Miss Araminta Cox, so I'll not take your part any more." We had by this time reached a sort of rude pier, shaded by a few old thorn trees, limes, and horse chesnuts; an irregular rugged red stone wall, which, sometimes retiring, sometimes advancing, followed the course of the road, formed a very suitable back ground; and just here an arch of heavy stone work sheltered a clear and deep well; beside the little landing place lay a large flat-bottomed boat, and at its bow sat a huge, rough, grizzled boatman, in a hairy cap and horn spectacles, (looking coeval with the Priory Tower, which was visible above the trees), intently reading a well thumbed book. "Elijah!" called out Mrs. O'Toole. I started at the scriptural appellation. "Elijah! The onfortunate ould sinner is making his sowl; he's as deaf as a stone. Elijah Bush, I say!" "Ho, Cormac," said Miss Vernon. The old man looked up, as the hound stepped on the gunnel and shook the boat; and raising his cap, came forward, apologising respectfully for his pre-occupation. "It bai'nt so often I get a sight of the Ward," said he, in a broad Cumberland accent, "but I'm main glad to see you." Miss Vernon replied courteously. "Elijah, honey, is there e'er a throut to be got to day," said Nurse. "Not as I knows on, Marm; I did see Davy Jones passing on here, sure enough, with the rods; but he hadn't took nothink then." "A'then, just look out for him like a good Christian, and tell him if he's caught even the ghost of one, to have it up at the house, mind, now." "Ay sure," said Elijah. "Ah! what'll I do at all at all," said Mrs. O'Toole to Miss Vernon, in accents of great concern, "if I can't get a throut for the Captin?" "I dare say he will kindly endeavour to dine without one," she replied. "Then I am to have the pleasure of dining with you," said I. "Of course," said Kate, opening her eyes, "where else would you dine?" I handed her into the boat, and after carefully assisting Mrs. O'Toole, who accepted my _petits soins_ with a "Musha, but I'm well attinded," took my seat beside her. A few vigorous strokes from Elijah's oars brought us across, and we were standing at the foot of the broken rocky bank visible from the windows of the cottage. "Is there much custom at your ferry now?" asked Miss Vernon as we paid him. "Not much to speak of, but I gets my crust; and at all events the Lord will provide," he said, raising his cap. "Holy Vargin, listen to that now!" said Mrs. O'Toole with much fervour, "you're a mighty religious man entirely, Elijah; faith, Father Macdermott could'nt hould a candle to you, tho' he laid the Divil at Innishogue." "Good bye," said her young lady, "we will be back in about an hour, Elijah."