Then She Fled Me Read Free

in the lough and fine country walks and we ’ re self-supporting for milk and eggs and butter and game. ”
    Sarah paused for breath and her aunt said mildly:
    “ You ’ re always so enthusiastic, dear, but these wild schemes don ’ t usually work very well. Paying guests would mean a lot of work. ”
    “ But we could all work. Danny can clean the shoes. Kathy and I can help round the house, and you can give Nonie a hand in the kitchen and do the shopping. ”
    “ No, ” said Kathy suddenly and unusually firmly.
    Sarah turned slowly to look at her.
    “ But, Kathy —” she began, but her sister broke in quickly:
    “ Sarah, you can ’ t be serious. To have our home invaded, by strangers—to turn Dun Rury into a common boarding house! You must be out of your mind. ”
    “ Why? ” demanded Danny, looking interested. The idea appealed to him. English tourists were said to be lavish with tips and there would be plenty of excuse to stop away from school.
    “ Well, ” said Sarah reasonably, “ can you think of any other way of earning money and still stopping at home? ”
    “ My piano lessons bring in a little, ” said Kathy, looking hurt.
    “ Oh, Kathy! A few shillings a week—when they pay at all! And you can ’ t enjoy listening to the efforts of Mrs. Sullivan ’ s youngest, and snuffling J imm y Mulligan and the rest. ”
    “ I love music, ” said Kathy reprovingly.
    “ Well, that ’ s what I meant. Anyhow, you can still have your pupils. It ’ ll be pocket money for you. ”
    “ No, ” said Kathy, the distaste on her lovely face lending her a fastidious air. “ Aunt Em, don ’ t let her—think what it would mean. ”
    “ I don ’ t care for the idea, I must admit, ” Aunt Em replied. “ And, in any case, I shouldn ’ t think it ’ s possible. ”
    “ We ’ ll ask Nonie, ” Sarah said, and shouted into the kitchen.
    Nonie had been nurse to all three of them. She frequently went without her wages, and she took it as her right to be included in all family conferences. She was getting old now, but her back was still upright and she stood no nonsense from any of them. She stood by the table now in her clean white apron and her faded eyes scrutinized them all, while the corners of her mouth drew down in disapproval as she listened.
    “ I never heard the like, ” she observed when Sarah had finished. “ The young ladies of Dun Rury soiling their hands for a lot of heathens from over the water! ”
    “ But heaps of people do it, ” said Sarah. “ Look at the Miss Kellys across the lough. I ’ m told they make a mint of money in the fishing season. ”
    “ The Miss Kellys are not quality, ” said Nonie severely. “ It ’ s well enough for the likes of them, though I ’ m hearing the robbery that goes on up there is shameful, and the poor craytures driven to Casey ’ s for food and drink because their stomachs are starved on them. ”
    “ Well, perhaps they ’ d come here instead. We wouldn ’ t starve them, ” said Sarah, but Nonie fixed her with a stern eye. “ And who, me bold girl, will cook for the craytures? ”
    “ You will, of course, darling Nonie, ” Sarah said in the same voice which she used to employ as a little girl when she was uncertain if her request would be granted.
    “ Non i e —” pleaded Kathy.
    “ Don ’ t you fret yourself, Miss Kathy, ” the old woman replied. “ Never in me life have I worked for the likes of such as them, an ’ I ’ ll not start now—no, Miss Sarah, not if you ask me on your bended knees. The shame on you for thinking it! ”
    “ That settles it, ” said Kathy happily, but Sarah, standing straight and slim in the lamplight, the old light of b attle in her green eyes, said:
    “ It does not, then. The Kavanaghs are coming to suppe r tomorrow. We ’ ll ask them. ”
    “ Joe will be on my side, ” said Kathy quickly.
    Sarah leant across the table and touched her sister ’ s, cheek with loving fingers.
    “ Of course Joe