Kitty, who had been silent for a time, now stood in the middle of the field, threw both her hands to her sides, let her parasol drop on the ground, and opened her mouth wide. "Have you gone quite mad?" asked Alice in a severe tone. "Mad is it?" said Kitty; "not I. I am taking in some of the air." Here she began to breathe very deeply and with considerable noise. "Why, my ducky girls, the pair of you, I was fairly suffocated in that bandbox of a house; now the breeze here is fine and fresh, and I want to fill my lungs. Is there any objection?" "Oh, none I am sure," answered Bessie; "but you really did look most extraordinary." "I am glad no one was passing at the moment," said Alice. "What would they have thought?" "Does it matter what they think?" asked Kitty. "We never mind what anyone thinks of us in Ireland. Ah, the dear old place; how I pine for it! There now, my lungs are full, and we can go on again." She picked up her parasol and began to stride forward. "Isn't she a horror?" whispered Alice to Bessie. "Hush!" answered Bessie; "she only does it to amuse us. The thing is to take very little notice; we'll soon tame her down." "Is it taming me you're after?" called back Kitty. "Well, then, you'll never do that, for I come of a wild lot, and I have always been called Wild Kitty from the moment I could speak. But there's no harm in me, not a bit. Now, then, I'll walk as sober as you please. What shall we talk about?" "Is there anything you would like to ask us?" said Bessie. "I am sure then, darling, I don't think there is. Wouldn't you like to ask me some questions? I'm as open as day. I'll lay bare all the thoughts of my secret soul to the pair of you, if you care to hear them." "I don't know that we do," said Bessie. "You see we have got to make your acquaintance yet, Kitty." "Ah, now it's nice of you to call me Kitty, and that's a very pretty little voice you have; soft and winning. How is it you say some of those words? I can't get my tongue round them; but I dare say I will after a bit." "Would you like to know what kind of place we are going to?" asked Bessie. "Oh, I'll wait until I get there," answered Kitty. "I suppose it's like all other places; there's a house and some girls; and if we are asked to tea, why we'll get tea, and they'll think me no end of an oddity, and I'll think them a lot of muffs; but that don't matter. Oh, my dears, if you only saw Old Ireland, and if you only knew the free life we have there, and the beautiful air that comes blowing in from the broad Atlantic. Why, it's smothered I'll be in this queer place. I doubt if I'll stay long. I'll write to father, and ask him to take me back again." "I would if I were you," said Alice stoutly. "Now, what do you mean by that, 'Alice, aroon?'"