But before she could proceed further in her little speech the narrow door which gave access to the house was thrown open and Mary Nolan appeared upon the scene.

“Elleney, you’re to—­” she was beginning, when she suddenly stopped, and, to use her own expression, “let a yell” that brought her aunt and cousins in tumult to the scene.

“I couldn’t for the life o’ me help it,” she explained as they crowded round her.  “When I had the door opened who did I see but himself”—­designating Brian—­“with his impident arm round Elleney’s waist—­the bould little scut!”

“Sure, I didn’t ax him to put it there,” protested Elleney, beginning to cry; “I didn’t rightly know what he was doin’.”

“Ladies,” said the suitor, “don’t disthress yourselves.  There wasn’t a ha’porth of harm in it—­me arm was in the right place.  I come here by my father’s wish an’ with your consent, ma’am, to choose one o’ your family for my wife.  Me clargy wouldn’t let me marry the whole of yez, so I have to be content with one, an’ I’m after choosin’ this one.”

Juliana laughed shrilly and ironically, and Henrietta clapped her hands together; the rest stood round with stony faces, except Nanny, who cast a dubious and compassionate glance at Elleney.

“Lord save us!” ejaculated Mrs. McNally, when she had recovered her wits, “I never thought o’ such a thing.  I had a right to have told ye—­it’s a mistake.  Me poor young man, come away with me an’ I’ll tell ye.”

“No mistake at all, ma’am,” Brian was beginning, with a bright backward glance at Elleney; but Mrs. McNally clutched him by the arm, looking so much disturbed the while, that the words died on his lips, and he suffered himself to be drawn along the passage and into the parlour.  The others also melted away with many scornful murmurs and withering glances, all except Nanny, who hurled herself round the counter and caught Elleney in her arms.

[Illustration:  ELLENEY “With his impident arm round Elleney’s waist”]

“Ye poor misfortunate innicent!” she exclaimed.  “Why didn’t ye tell him ye weren’t rightly one o’ the family?”

“He didn’t give me time,” faltered Elleney; adding with more spirit, “Besides, what matter if it’s me he likes the best?”

“Bless us an’ save us!” groaned Nanny; “sure how can ye get married when ye haven’t so much as a one pound note o’ your own?”

“Do you think he didn’t know?” gasped Elleney, looking very blank.

“Not a know,” responded Nanny, with decision.  “My mother had a right to have told him, but some way not one of us dreamed of him thinkin’ of you.  Sure, girl alive, if he was willin’ itself, his father ’ud never agree to his havin’ ye.”

“I s’pose not,” said Elleney; “but ye don’t know all he’s afther sayin’ to me, Nanny.”

“Och, divil doubt him!” exclaimed Nanny, with a vexed laugh.  “Sure, that’s the way they all does be goin’ on.  If ye had more sense, Elleney, me dear, ye’d know how to be up to them.  Whisht!—­here’s m’mah!”