stairs: "I can see the curl of his whiskers."

By this time the news had reached Mrs Kelly, in the shop, "that a
sthrange gentleman war axing for Miss Anty, but that she warn't to be
shown to him on no account;" so the widow dropped her tobacco knife,
flung off her dirty apron, and, having summoned Jane and Meg to attend
to the mercantile affairs of the establishment--turned into the inn,
and met Mr Daly and her son still standing at the bottom of the stairs.

The widow curtsied ceremoniously, and wished Mr. Daly good morning, and
he was equally civil in his salutation.

"Mr Daly's going to have us all before the assizes, mother. We'll never
get off without the treadmill, any way: it's well av' the whole kit of
us don't have to go over the wather at the queen's expense."

"The Lord be good to us;" said the widow, crossing herself. What's the
matter, Mr Daly?"

"Your son's joking, ma'am. I was only asking to see Miss Lynch, on
business."

"Step upstairs, mother, into the big parlour, and don't let's be
standing talking here where all the world can hear us."

"And wilcome, for me, I'm shure"--said the widow, stroking down
the front of her dress with the palms of her hands, as she walked
upstairs--"and wilcome too for me I'm very shure. I've said or done
nothing as I wish to consail, Mr Daly. Will you be plazed to take a
chair?" and the widow sat down herself on a chair in the middle of the