14
SHIANA
myself and James. But what put it into your head that he should be going to die, Peg? There are no signs of dying about him, God bless him!—never you fear.
Peg.—Why, you said first that you were his mother, and then that it was you that had baptized him; and the Catechism says that nobody but the priest could baptize him, unless he were dying and that there was no priest there.
Sheila.—I think the way it is with Kate just now is that her foot doesn't know what her hand is going to do.
Kate.—I declare, Sheila, you are right! My foot doesn't know what my hand will do, and I myself don't know what my foot or my hand will do! If you saw him, Sheila, you would be very fond of him. I am so fond of him myself that I think I shall eat him!
Abbie (coming in).—Why, Kate, what is that you are saying? I shouldn't like you to be very fond of me, if that is what you would do to me!
Peg.—Welcome, Abbie! Have you seen Nora coming?
Abbie.—She is just coming to the door. She was beckoning to me to wait for her, but I was afraid that I would lose some of that story of Shiana.
Nora (coming in).—You see now, Abbie, it wasn't worth your while not to wait for me.
Peg.—Welcome, Nora! You haven't done badly; you are not far behind her. Now, girls, move up here near the fire. The evening is a little bit chilly. There! Now I think we are pretty snug.
