The widow seemed to be in great doubt and perplexity, and continued
whispering with Martin for some time, during which Daly remained
standing with his back to the fire. At length Martin said, "Av' you've
got another of them notices to give my mother, Mr Daly, why don't you
do it?"

"Why, to tell you the thruth," answered the attorney, "I don't want to
throuble your mother unless it's absolutely necessary; and although I
have the notice ready in my pocket, if I could see Miss Lynch, I might
be spared the disagreeable job of serving it on her."

"The Holy Virgin save us!" said the widow; "an' what notice is it at
all, you're going to serve on a poor lone woman like me?"

"Be said by me, mother, and fetch Anty in here. Mr Daly won't expect, I
suppose, but what you should stay and hear what it is he has to say?"

"Both you and your mother are welcome to hear all that I have to say to
the lady," said Daly; for he felt that it would be impossible for him
to see Anty alone.

The widow unwillingly got up to fetch her guest. When she got to the
door, she turned round, and said, "And is there a notice, as you calls
it, to be sarved on Miss Lynch?"

"Not a line, Mrs Kelly; not a line, on my honour. I only want her to
hear a few words that I'm commissioned by her brother to say to her."

"And you're not going to give her any paper--nor nothing of that sort