"You must let us do it--O'Brien and me--every week, Miss O'Brien; our
arms are stronger."
"I," said the Atom, weightily, "think you are a very nice boy."
"And I think you are a very nice lit--young lady."
"I'll show you my snowy-breasted Pearl afterwards."
"Eh? Oh, thanks."
"He's very sensertive; you mustn't mind if he bites you a little."
"Oh, I'll like it. So your white-breasted Pearl's a boy, is he?"
"I'll essplain to you about his name another time," she said with great
dignity. She came closer, and whispered: "Denis calls him somethin'
else. I'm 'fraid he might do it now. Promise you'll never, _never_ ask
him what he calls my Pearl!"
He looked surprised into the beseeching face.
"All right," he said gently, "I'll never ask him."
"Thank you."
She dusted a table leg in silence.
"You are English, aren't you?" she said then.
He nodded.
"Perhaps you've lived years and years in Ireland?"
"No."
"Perhaps you've lived a little while there?"
He was looking amused.
"No."
"Perhaps you've stayed for _heaps_ of visits there?"
"No."
"Perhaps you've stayed for just a _few little_ visits?"
"No."
Sheila Pat stared in disappointed wonder.
"Haven't you ever been there at _all_?"
"Never set foot in it."
"Oh!"