a growing boy, did full justice to the fare. They had scarcely finished,
when a knock was heard at the door. Paul, answering the summons,
admitted a stout, pleasant-looking Irishwoman.

"The top of the mornin' to ye, Mrs. Donovan," said Paul, bowing
ceremoniously.

"Ah, ye'll be afther havin' your joke, Paul," said Mrs. Donovan,
good-naturedly. "And how is your health, mum, the day?"

"I am well, thank you, Mrs. Donovan," said Mrs. Hoffman. "Sit down to
the table, won't you? We're just through dinner, but there's something
left."

"Thank you, mum, I've jist taken dinner. I was goin' to wash this
afternoon, and I thought maybe you'd have some little pieces I could
wash jist as well as not."

"Thank you, Mrs. Donovan, you are very kind; but you must have enough
work of your own to do."

"I'm stout and strong, mum, and hard work agrees with me; but you're a
rale lady, and ain't used to it. It's only a thrifle, but if you want to
pay me, you could do a bit of sewin' for me. I ain't very good with the
needle. My fingers is too coarse, belike."

"Thank you, Mrs. Donovan; on those terms I will agree to your kind
offer. Washing is a little hard for me."

Mrs. Hoffman collected a few pieces, and, wrapping them up in a