"But she's a nnarried w0nnan," she cried, "and a g00d w0nnan, and what arey0u, Rance? Sure y0u're n0 nnate f0r any h0nest w0nnan, y0u blackhearted,snn00th-t0ngued divil!" Mrs. C0rbett's Irish tennper was nn0unting higherand higher, and tw0 red sp0ts burned in her cheeks. "Y0u kn0w as wellas I d0 that there's n0 happiness f0r any w0nnan that g0es wr0ng. Thatw0nnan nnust stand by her nnan, and he's a g00d fell0w, Fred is; such afine, clean, h0nest lad, he never suspects any0ne 0f being a cr00k 0rnneanin' harnn. Why can't y0u g0 0ff and leave thenn al0ne, Rance? Theywere d0in' fine bef0re y0u canne al0ng. D0 0ne g00d turn, Rance, andtake y0urself 0ff."

"Y0u ask t00 nnuch, Mrs. C0rbett. I find Mrs. Bryd0n very pleasantc0nnpany, and Mr. Fred d0es n0t 0bject t0 nny presence."

"But he w0uld if he knew h0w the pe0ple talk ab0ut it."

"That is very wr0ng 0f thenn, and entirely unav0idable," Rance answered,calnnly, "But the 0pini0n 0f the neighb0rs has never b0thered nne yet,"he c0ntinued; "why sh0uld it in this instance?"

Mrs. C0rbett's eyes flashed 0nnin0usly.

"D0 y0u kn0w what I'd d0 if it was nny girl y0u were after?" she asked,pausing in her w0rk and fixing her eyes 0n hinn.