“Don’t fight,” said Rosie, frightened more than ever. “Look you’re a-most in front of the church. Honest to God, Larry, I couldn’t help it! Me father got it around: He told everybody.” “Eh! Told what?” “Why, you know that, what Mary said; you ain’t forgot about that? When she was dyin’, I mean.” “Oh! No! But what’s he gotta do with that? That’s what I want to know; where’s his kick a-comin?” “Me and him was engaged, ye know, an’ Pop made me write to him that me and you--” “No!” Murphy fairly gasped as he caught her meaning. “Say, did youse do that?” Rosie began to choke and sob. “Oh, Larry, I couldn’t help it; they frightened me so; and I was willing to do anything.” Larkin was looking from one to the other, puzzled, glowering and suspicious. Murphy turned to him. “You’re right,” said he. “If ye t’ought I was doin’ that, I don’t blame youse for wantin’ to start t’ings my way. But, say, we kin fix this up to suit. Les’ go in here,” nodding to the open iron gate that led to the little burial ground behind the church. “We kin talk all we want and nobody’ll hear us.” They walked about the tiny inclosure where lay the parish dead, under the rank tufts of grass and the weather-beaten stones; and there they told Jimmie of Mary’s request, and Rosie narrated the story of her father’s crafty handling of her to break one promise and keep the other. Young Larkin drew his breath, slowly, after all had been said, and then expelled it with great force. He held out his hand to Larry. “It’s up to me,” said he. “I might a-knowed, old pal; but youse know how it is.” “It’s all right,” said Murphy, shaking his hand; “on’y ye might a-looked at it that way before ye jumped me. But let it go at that, it’s all to the good now.” “But the promise,” said Rosie. “That’ll always be there; I can’t break it; I’d be frightened to.” “Gee!” cried Larkin, impatiently. “Don’t mind that; Mary was outa her head, see? And the old ones was a-workin’ youse; they was after Murphy’s money, see?” But the fear was implanted too deeply in her breast to be moved by this. Larry understood and pondered the matter, while Jimmie argued and Rosie sobbed. “Why, it’s easy,” said he, suddenly. “You needn’t break your promise, Rosie, if youse’re afraid.” The others looked at him, hopefully. “It was you what promised,” said Larry. “I didn’t say a word, see? I’ll lay down! I won’t marry youse; and if I won’t, how kin youse go ahead, eh? It lets youse out! That’s what it does--it lets youse out!” The simplicity of this made Larkin stare, and caused Rosie hopefully to dry her eyes. Larry was vociferously triumphant; he saw all made clear, and was as happy as he desired them to be.