Called away from the contemplation of her own trials, Kate, feeling her usual elasticity return, ran lightly up the steep path, and called nurse, to arm herself with broth and flannel for the invalid. "Is it Piper's lane? Now, Miss Kate, I cannot let you go to sich a place. Set up the old Methody, to have Miss Vernon nurse and tending iv him--I can take the tay and the broth, and them flannels just as well." "But, nurse, he would like to see me." "I'll go bail he would." "And I would like to see him; besides, I want to talk to you, dear nurse." "Faix, it's a wax modial I am in yer hands, ye turn an' twist me what way ye will; but to think iv yer takin' the illigant mutton broth I was cooking for the masther's own self, bangs Banaher." "There will be quite enough left for us," laughed Kate; "and I am afraid the poor man wants it much more than we do." "It's not the likes iv me 'ud begrudge him a taste iv broth," said nurse, tying a capacious tin-can up very carefully. "Now are yes ready, avourneen. It's yerself has the heart for the poor! an' the Lord 'ill remimber it to you in the hour of need, amin." The little boy guided them through many narrow, winding ways, to a wretched habitation outside the walls, and almost under the half-ruined tower of St. Winefred. It was a miraculous place, for although all the pools seemed to be, at least partly, composed of soap suds, nothing looked as if it had ever been washed. Here, in a tolerably clean room, at least by comparison, they found Elijah, looking more shaggy than ever, stretched on some straw, and covered with a tattered pea-jacket. After a little kindly talk and friendly enquiries as to the old man's resources, which proved to be indeed scanty, Kate left him, telling the small boy to call at the Priory, in half an hour, when she said she would give him a note to the doctor. "So good bye, Elijah, I hope you will be better to-morrow; in the mean time take this, till you are able to earn some more yourself." "I'm a poor hand at returning thanks, Miss Vernon," said Elijah, with evident feeling, "but," he added, solemnly, "The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble, the name of the God of Jacob defend thee!" "Amen," said Kate, fervently, bending her head to the benediction. Mrs. O'Toole, pausing in her occupation of transferring the broth to an earthen vessel, crossed herself, and the next moment they left the place silently. "He's a mighty quare man," said Mrs. O'Toole, meditatively, after they had almost reached the river side, without breaking a pause of unusual duration. "Faith, he blessed ye like a clargy." "And well he might, he little knows how soon his kindly wishes may be required." "Why, avourneen?" "Nurse," said Kate, after a minute of troubled thought, "we must leave this place." "Is it to go sthreelin' over thim furrin' parts, among dirt and flays, an' the Lord knows what?" "No, nurse, nothing half so agreeable."