The intrepid Benella could barely reach the sill, even from this ingeniously dizzy elevation, and Mrs. Waterford and Salemina were called on to 'stiddy' the tables, while Molly was bidden to help by giving an heroic 'boost' when the word of command came. The device was completely successful, and in a trice the conqueror disappeared, to reappear at the window holding the precious pearl-embroidered bodice wrapped in a towel. “I wouldn't stop to fool with the door-knob till I dropped you this,” she said. “Oonah, you go and wash your hands clean, and help Miss Peabody into it,--and mind you start the lacing right at the top; and you, Peter, run down to Rooney's and get the donkey and the cart, and bring 'em back with you,--and don't you let the grass grow under your feet neither!” There was literally no other mode of conveyance within miles, and time was precious. Salemina wrapped herself in Francesca's long black cloak, and climbed into the cart. Dinnis hauls turf in it, takes a sack of potatoes or a pig to market in it, and the stubborn little ass, blind of one eye, has never in his wholly elective course of existence taken up the subject of speed. It was eight o'clock when Benella mounted the seat beside Salemina, and gave the donkey a preliminary touch of the stick. “Be aisy wid him,” cautioned Peter. “He's a very arch donkey for a lady to be dhrivin', and mebbe he'd lay down and not get up for you.” “Arrah! shut yer mouth, Pether. Give him a couple of belts anondher the hind leg, melady, and that'll put the fear o' God in him!” said Dinnis. “I'd rather not go at all,” urged Salemina timidly; “it's too late, and too extraordinary.” “I'm not going to have it on my conscience to make you lose this dinner-party,--not if I have to carry you on my back the whole way,” said Benella doggedly; “and this donkey won't lay down with me more'n once,--I can tell him that right at the start.” “Sure, melady, he'll go to Galway for you, when oncet he's started wid himself; and it's only a couple o' fingers to the Castle, annyways.”