"Pat, he done as I told him, and come to you a-Saturday, and he'd kape
on comin' Saturdays, but I can't tell him he must go out to service
loike a girl, when I know what thim b'ys will have in store for him. I
must jist ask him, do you see? And what he'll say, I can't tell. He's
mighty brave. Maybe he'll come. I've been tellin' him he's not to be
lickin' that Jim Barrows if he is impudent to him."

"Does Pat fight?" asked Mrs. Brady doubtfully. "He seemed so amiable."

"And pleasant he is," cried the widow earnestly. "'Twas not for himsilf
he fought, do you understand. 'Twas because Jim Barrows hurt Andy's
feelin's and struck him besides. Andy's my third son, ma'am. He's only
eleven, and not strong ayther. And Pat, he loves him better, I belave,
than he does all the rest of the b'ys put together."

"Oh!" said Mrs. Brady with a relieved air.

"But havin' got a taste of makin' Jim Barrows kape off Andy has sort of
got him in the notion of not takin' nothin' off him, do you see? But
it's his father has a good influence over him yet. Tim's in his grave,
ma'am, but it's meanin' I am he shall still rule his b'ys. And he does,
too."




CHAPTER V