144
SHIANA
and the whole conversation and discussion turned upon the catastrophe which had befallen Sive and Dermot.
Sheila.—Indeed, Peg, I suppose, but for that, it would have happened to them as Dermot said. They would have been killed or burnt alive in the house.
Kate.—But for Shiana they would have been in a bad way.
Sheila.—How is that, Kate? Though he told Dermot to shut the door, did not Sive open it herself?
Kate.—It wouldn't have mattered whether it was open or shut, but for the skill with which Shiana put the story of the match and of the three hundred pounds into the mouths of the people. That was what saved them from the people's rage.
Peg.—And though Sive did not perceive it, she helped Shiana very much in the matter. When they had been looking at her and listening to her for a while, they said to each other that she was surely going out of her mind. Two women of her neighbours came and coaxed her in home. Then the rumour spread that she was stark mad and had to be tied. That put them out of all danger. Everyone believed that they were not guilty, and that they had not had any knowledge of what the thieves had done, and that, in fact, no one had suffered more by the whole business than they had.
