The old man stepped back, and, turning her round full in front of him, stood in wondering admiration of her for some seconds.
"Well?" said she, pertly, as if interrogating his opinion of her--"well?"
But his emotion was too strong for words, and the heavy tears coursed after each other down his wrinkled cheeks.
"It's harder for me to leave you, Kitty, darlin', than I thought it would be, and I know, too, I'll feel it worse when I go back."
"No you won't, grandfather," said she, caressingly. "You'll be thinking of me and the fine life I'm leadin' here, and the fine times that's before me."
"Do you think so, honey?" asked he, in a half-sobbing tone--"do you think so?"
"I know it, grandfather--I know it, so don't cry any more; and, whenever your heart is low, just think of what's coming. That's what I do. I always begin to think of what's coming!"
"And when that time comes, Kitty 'Alannah,' will you ever renumber yer ould grandfather, who won't be to 'the fore' to see it?"
"Because, darlin', I'm nigh eighty years of age, and I can't expect to see above a year or two, at farthest. Come here, and give me a kiss, ma Cushleen! and cut off a bit of your hair for me to have as a keepsake, and put next my heart in my coffin."
"No, grandfather; take this, it will do as well"--and she handed him the little golden trinket--"for I can't cut my hair, after hearin' the gentlemen sayin' how beautiful it is!"
The old man, however, motioned away the gift with one hand, while he drew the other across his eyes.
"Is there anything you think of now, Kitty," said he, with an effort to appear calm, "for I must be goin'?"
"Give my love to them all beyant," said she, gravely, "and say if there's a thing I could do for them, I'll do it, but don't let them be comin' after me!"
A sickly paleness spread over the old man's face, and his lips trembled as he muttered, "No fear of that! They'll not trouble you! Good-by!" And he stooped and kissed her.
When he had walked a few paces away, he turned, and, with hands fervently clasped above his head, uttered a blessing in Irish.
"God speed you, grandfather, and send you safe home!" cried she. And, skipping over a flower-bed, was lost to his view, though he could hear her happy voice as she went away singing.