THE GIANT'S CAUSEWAY "See that little girl out there on the rocks with the big dog beside her." _Page 111_] "It's good news that you're here, Kathleen mavourneen," replied her father, giving her a hearty kiss. "But it is much better than that," said Kathleen. "Mary Ellen can see. Cousin Bee wrote to me about it." "So she can," said her father, "and a great blessing it is to the dear child." "You knew it all the time!" exclaimed Kathleen, "and I thought it was a secret. Who told you? Did Cousin Bee write to you, too?" "Perhaps she did," her father answered; and then, looking out across the Causeway, he added, "See that little girl out there on the rocks with the big dog beside her. Do you think it is safe for her to be there all alone? Go and tell her that she'd better come up here with you." "Uncle Tom sent me to find Aunt Hannah and the children," said Kathleen. "I think they are over there on the sand looking for sea-shells." "I'll go down and speak to them," her father said, "and we will all come back and meet you." So Kathleen clambered out over the rocky pier, stopping every few minutes to see if the little girl were still safe. "She looks like Mary Ellen, only bigger," she said to herself, as she came nearer and saw the child's yellow curls. Just then the little girl began singing in a sweet soft voice, "How many miles to Dublin Town?" and Kathleen knew at once that it was Mary Ellen herself, singing for happiness the little song they used to sing together in Donegal. "Mary Ellen!" she called; "Mary Ellen!" And the little sister turned and held out her arms, crying, "I hear you, Kathleen; I'd know your voice anywhere. But, best of all, I can see you now." Such a hugging and laughing and chattering as there was then. Kathleen had to tell Mary Ellen all about Kilkenny and the Malones, and Mary Ellen had to tell Kathleen about the doctor and the hospital and Cousin Bee. "And she brought me up here to meet you and Father," she said. "Who did?" asked Kathleen. "Cousin Bee, of course," replied her sister; "and she and Father are planning that we will all live in Tonroe next year, and you and I are both going to school there. Father is to have the little farm next to Cousin Patrick's, and we are going to have two little donkeys for our very own." "Kathleen," shouted Columba, "we are going over to the wishing chair. Father says he wants to wish that we'll all get home without getting lost again." "Yes," answered Kathleen, and she took her sister's hand to lead her back over the rocks. "You won't have to lead me any more," said Mary Ellen. "That's so, darling; but I'll be forgetting it all the time at first," replied Kathleen. "Tallyho-o-o for the wishing chair!" called Columba again. "Yes," answered Kathleen, "we're coming." Then she looked lovingly at her little sister and added, "But I've nothing to wish for now that Mary Ellen can see." VOCABULARY =ȧ lȧn′n[a+]=, my dear.