Molly returned to her general good humour this morning, having few
guests to attend to besides Mrs. Sullivan's family; and, to make up for
her ill temper the night before, was particularly attentive, providing
them with unsmoked water for their tea, and with bread, butter, eggs,
and cream, of the best quality. They did not fail to profit by her
care; and having made an excellent repast, prepared to recommence their
journey. Mrs. O'Sullivan, as she now called herself, offered Colonel
Desmond and Mr. Donolan seats in her carriages, which had arrived that
morning from Dublin, from whence they had been sent two days before.
These two gentleman accepting this accommodation, Caroline was consigned
to the care of the maids, to make room for the dilettante in the
barouche, Colonel Desmond taking the place of the servant on the driving
seat.
Mrs. O'Sullivan vainly attempted to practise towards the lower Irish the
"genteel economy" she had so successfully carried into effect in Wales.
The dexterous Hibernians, either by flattering or wounding her pride,
contrived to draw forth, _bon grÈ mal grÈ_, the money out of her
pockets. As she was walking out of the Canal Inn, Molly ran after her,
saying, "May I make bould to spake a word to your Ladyship?" At the
word _Ladyship_, Mrs. Sullivan turned round. "You've made a small
mistake, madam; it was tree tirteens (three shillings) you intended to
bestow me, and its tree testers (three sixpences) I've got." "No mistake
at all, my good girl." "Och! put your hand in your purse, and you'll see
I'm right. Grand quality like you always gives me tree tirteens: my Lady
Glenora always bestows it me every time she comes forenenst me." "Are
you sure that's true?" "Arrah where did you ever hear that Molly
Cavanagh tould a lie? May the breakfast I'm after eating be my poison,
and the devil blow me, if it isn't as right as my leg." Mrs. Sullivan,
that she might exceed Lady Glenora, gave her three and sixpence. Molly
now tapped Adelaide on the shoulder, and presented her with a beautiful
nosegay she had pulled from the inn gardens; but when she saw her
proceeding to open her purse, laying her hand on her arm, she stopped
her, saying with a half reproachful look of sorrow, "Is it _you_ that's
going to affront poor Molly? You're under no compliment to me at all.
You gave me entirely too much before. I'll warrant me you're a grand
lady when you're at home. You're as beautiful and as sweet as the posy
yourself; and may your pretty brown eyes never look but on a friend, I
pray God!" Adelaide, with one of her most charming smiles, and in the
sweetest tone of her dulcet voice, thanked Molly for her good will; and
as she stepped into the carriage thought to herself, "How my heart would
ache, to see the kindness of these warm-hearted people treated with the
scorn I fear is too often the only return it meets!" Colonel Desmond,
directing the drivers to take that road which would most quickly lead
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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