This turning up of the hair was peculiar only to married life, of which
condition it was universally a badge. The young females wore theirs
fastened behind by a skewer; but on this occasion one of them, the
youngest, allowed it to fall in natural ringlets about her cheeks and
shoulders.
"God save all here," said Barney, as he entered the house.
"God save you kindly, Barney," was the instant reply from all.
"Ah, Mrs. Davoren," he proceeded, "ever the same; by this and by that,
if there's a woman living ignorant of one thing, and you are that
woman."
"Sorrow off you, Barney! well, what is it?"
"Idleness, achora. Now, let me see if you have e'er a finger at all to
show; for upon my honorable word they ought to be worn to the stumps
long ago. Well, and how are you all? But sure I needn't ax. Faith,
you're crushin' the _blanter_* anyhow, and that looks well."
* Blantur, a well-known description of oats. It was so
called from having been originally imported from Blantire in
Scotland.
"We must live, Barney; 'tis a poor shift we'd make 'idout the praties
and the broghan," (meal porridge).
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