"Why, Norah?" "When you see a cloud of dust sweeping along, you may know the fairies are travelling. It might bring something bad to us if we stood in their way. We want them to be our friends, of course." "Oh, yes, yes, Norah. I'll be careful next time. But I'm tired. Tell me a story about the fairies." "I'm tired, too, Katie darlint. But I'll tell ye this much. There once was a man who did not care for the fairies as he should. Perhaps he did not believe they used arrows and shot them at the cattle of those people with whom they were angry. Oh, Katie, it is the living truth that the fairies can bewitch any one whom they please. "Well, the man of whom I was tellin' ye bought a farm. It was close to a beautiful valley where the fairies had their home. He built himself a house; he ploughed the land; and then he made a lime-kiln on the very borders of the fairies' home. "They were so angry that they punished him in many ways. But not all at once, Katie darlint. First, they killed his horse; next, three of his cows; and, as though that wasn't enough, nine of his pigs died. [Illustration: "THE DRIVER STOPPED HIS CAR AND ASKED NORAH HOW FAR IT WAS TO THE LAKES OF KILLARNEY."] "The farmer knew well enough what was the matter. He took down his lime-kiln, and was careful after that to keep clear of the borders of fairy-land." "Look, look, Norah! I hear a carriage. It may be people travelling through the country. Put on your sweetest smile and maybe they will give us a penny." The two children stood still on one side of the road. As the carriage passed them, little Kate held out her chubby hands, saying, "A penny, kind lady, if ye plaze." She was quick to notice that, besides the driver, three gentlemen and a lady filled the seats of the jaunting-car. "Take this, little one, for your rosy cheeks and smiling face." The lady threw out a three-penny piece, as the driver stopped his car and asked Norah how far it was to the lakes of Killarney. "Four miles, sir, if ye keep straight on this road," was the answer. "Do you mean four Irish miles?" asked one of the gentlemen. "For, if you do, we have an hour's good drive before us." "Sure, and I always supposed a mile is a mile," answered Norah, with a perplexed look in her eyes. The gentleman laughed, and said, "If you go to America when you grow up, you will find that two of our miles will almost make one of yours." The car passed on, and the children stood watching the travellers out of sight. "Isn't it grand to be travelling like that, Katie?" said her sister. "A jaunting-car is one of the finest things in the world." But the people who were in the carriage did not agree with her. "Dear me!" said the lady, "I'm afraid of falling out whenever the horse goes fast. And as for this beautiful country, I can only see what is on one side of the road at a time."