"Don't you know that much? Why you are an ignoramus out and out. Well, I'll tell you. It's a stone on Blarney Castle, set low down in the wall, five or six feet from the top; and to kiss it, why that is no easy matter, for you have to be held by your heels and let hang over the wall; and if you can get some one to hold you tight--very tight, mind--you slide down and you reach the stone and you kiss it, and from that moment--oh glory! but you carry everything before you. There's not a man, a woman, nor a child, no, nor a beastie either, that can resist you. You bewitch 'em." "I have no doubt, Kitty, you kissed the stone," said Mr. Denvers. "Why then, it's yes, sir," she answered raising her big eyes and then dropping them again with an inimitable expression. "What a queer little girl you are!" he said. "You are very amusing; but I think we must tame you a bit." "You won't do that, sir. They call me the wild Irish girl at home, and the wild Irish girl I'll be to the end of the chapter. If it's schooling I want, why, I'll have it, but taming, no thank you." Kitty jumped from her seat and began to dance a sort of improvised Irish jig about the room. "Do you know the jig?" she said, dancing up to Fred as she spoke. "No," he answered; "are you trying it on now?" "Yes; jump up, my hearty, and I'll teach you in a twinkling. Here, watch me; point your toes so, turn round--pirouette as we call it. Now, then, put your hand on your hip, courtesy to me, and come back again. That's how it's done. Oh, Fred, I'll soon have you as beautiful a broth of a boy as if you were born in Old Ireland." "Fred, my son, it is time for you to go back to college," said his father. "Kitty, we are very pleased to have you here, and you are a very amusing girl; but you know life is not all play." Kitty pulled a long face. Fred darted a laughing glance at her, and ran off. Kitty and Alice at last found themselves alone. "You're disapproving of me a good bit, aren't you, Alice?" said Kitty, going up to the other girl and taking both her hands in hers. "Well, I think you are very odd," said Alice. "And do you want me to be quite sober and tame, and to have all the spirit knocked out me, alanna?" "No; but we don't do exactly as you do in this country." "And you think you'll tame me into your cut-and-dry pattern?" "I don't know about that. I don't understand you, Kitty." "You will after a bit, Alice. It's here I am for sure, and a gray sort of land it is! Why, the sun doesn't even shine!" "Oh, doesn't it," said Alice angrily. "It's ridiculous to talk in that strain about this country. We have much finer weather than you have in Ireland."