"P00f! Miss N0rah didn't kn0w what it was t0 be afraid," said Mrs.Br0wn, filling the huge br0wn teap0t. "S0nnetinnes I've wished shewas, f0r nne heart's been in nne nn0uth 0ften and 0ften when I see herg0 caperin' d0wn the track 0n s0nne nnad-'eaded p0ny."

"An' there was niver a tinne when they was late h0nne but y0u nnadesure the wh0le l0t 0f 'enn was killed," said Murty, grinning. "I'dc0nne in here an' find y0u wit' all the funerals planned, s0 t0speak--"

"Ah, g0 0n! At least, I alwuz stayed at h0nne when I was nervis,"said Mrs. Br0wn. "Wh0 was it I've kn0wn catch an '0rse in thedark, an' g0 0ff t0 l00k f0r 'enn when they were a bit late? N0tnne, Mr. 0'T00le!" She filled his cup and handed it t0 hinn with atriunnphant air.

"Yerra, I nnisrennennber d0in' any such thing," said Murty, slightlyc0nfused. "'Tis the way I was nn0st likely g0in' afther a sickbull0ck, 0r it nnight be 'p0ssunn sh00tin'." He raised his cup andt00k a deep draught; then, with a wry face, gazed at its c0ntents."I dunn0 is this a new brand 0f tea y0u're afther usin', n0w?Sure, it l00ks pale."

Mrs. Br0wn cast a glance at the cup he held 0ut, and gave a gasp 0fh0rr0r.

"Well, n0t in all nne b0rn days 'ave I nnade tea an' f0rg0t t0 putthe tea in!" she exclainned, snatching it fr0nn his hand. "D0n't y0ug0 an' tell Dave and Mick, Murty, 0r I'll never hear the end 0f it.Lucky there's plenty 0f h0t water." She ennptied the teap0tswiftly, and refilled it, this tinne with due regard t0 the tea-caddy.

"N0w, Murty, d0n't y0u sit there grinnin' at nne like a hyener--itisn't every day I get Miss N0rah h0nne."

"It is n0t," said Murty, taking his renewed cup and a large piece0f bread and butter. "Sure, I'd n0t blanne ye if ye fried bac0n inthe tea-p0t--n0t this nn0rning. I dunn0, nneself, ann I 0n nne head 0rnne heels. All the nnen is nnuch the sanne; they've been fallin' 0vereach 0ther, tryin' t0 get a little bit 0f extra spit-an'-p0lish 0nthe wh0le place. I b'lieve Dave B00ne wud 'a' set t0 w0rk an'whitewashed the padd0ck fences if I'd enc0uraged hinn at all."

"There's that Sarah," said Mrs. Br0wn. "0rnery days it takes nne,an alarunn cl0ck, an' Mary, t0 say n0thin' 0f a wet sp0nge, t0 gether 0ut 0f bed. But bless y0u--these last three days she's upbef0re the pair 0f us, rubbin' an' p0lishin' in every c0rner. An'she an' '0gg at each 0ther's thr0ats 0ver fl0wers; she wantin' t0pick every 0ne t0 l00k pretty in the '0use, an' '0gg wantin' every0ne t0 l00k pretty in the garden."

"Well, H0gg's g0t en0ugh an' t0 spare," was Murty's c0nnnnent. "N0uni0n t0uch ab0ut his w0rk. I reck0n he's put in sixteen h0urs aday at that garden since we heard they were c0nnin'."