“Judy!” cried the girl softly, bending out of the window.

Judy looked up in astonishment.  “Is it there ye are?” she cried.

“Oh, Judy, my grandfather has me locked in!  Listen now!  I want ye to do something for me.”

Judy’s face clouded over.  “I was just stalin’ out to have me little pipe,” she said.  “The masther does be killin’ me, when he catches me at it, an’ I was makin’ me way off while he had his back turned.”

“Ah, ye can smoke away as much as ye like,” cried Roseen impatiently.  “See here, Judy, all I want ye to do is to stand over there, by the corner of the haggard, an’ watch till Mike comes, an’ tell him me grandfather’s afther lockin’ me up, an’ I can’t get out this evenin’, but the first chanst I have to-morrow I’ll run round.  An’ tell him”—­here her voice faltered—­“that no matther what any one says, I’ll always be faithful to him.  An’ I’ll never get married to anybody on’y to himself.”

Judy’s beady black eyes were fixed somewhat vacantly on her mistress’s face during this speech, but she nodded at the end, and on being adjured not to forget, informed Roseen, somewhat tartly, that she had no notion of forgettin’.  She hobbled off fingering her beloved pipe, and Roseen, sitting by the window, watched the twilight deepen and saw the world grow misty and indistinct, and heard the birds twittering as they went to roost.  Then the stars came out one by one, and a pale young moon showed faintly in the sky; it was night now, but Judy had not returned.  Was it possible that Mike had failed to appear at the trysting-place.

After what seemed an interminable time, Judy’s uncertain footfalls were again heard, and her white bonnet showed indistinctly in the dusk, bobbing up and down as she approached.  Roseen craned forward her head eagerly.  “What did he say, Judy?”

“I’m afther losin’ me lovely pipe,” responded the old woman, halting beneath the window.  “What in the world will I do?  I’m afther losin’ it.  Oh dear! oh dear!—­the on’y bit o’ comfort I had.”

“Whisht, whisht; ye’ll find it to-morrow, when the light comes.  Did ye see Mike, Judy?  An’ what did he say?”

“Ah, don’t be botherin’ me about Mike,” wailed Judy, “I have other things to be thinkin’ of, I’m afther losing me beautiful pipe; me heart’s broke entirely!”

“Judy, Judy!  I’ll give ye the loveliest pipe ever ye seen, an’ a beautiful roll o’ twist, if on’y ye’ll tell me.  Wasn’t Mike in it at all, Judy?  Tell me that, for the love of Heaven.”

Judy made a desperate effort to collect the scattered remnants of her wits, and presently said doubtfully:  “Is it Mike ye are axing about?  Sure what ‘ud bring Mike to the haggard?  I did not see him—­an’ me pipe is lost on me!”

Roseen fairly stamped her foot.  Why had she been such a fool as to count on this poor old idiotic creature?  Probably while Judy was hunting for her pipe, Mike had watched and waited in vain for a sign from his love.