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 to give Mr. Quigg any information that might comfort him.

“Were ye insured?” asked Quigg, in a cautious tone, his eyes on the lilacs.

“Oh, yis, ivery pinny on what was burned, so Mary tells me.”

Quigg caught his breath; the rumor in the village was the other way. Why didn't Crimmins make a clean sweep of it and burn 'em all at once, he said to himself.

“I brought some flowers over for Miss Jennie,” said Quigg, regaining his composure. “Is she in?”

“Yis; I'll call her.” Gentle and apparently harmless as Gran'pop was, men like Quigg somehow never looked him steadily in the eye.

“I was tellin' Mr. Mullins I brought ye over some flowers,” said Quigg, turning to Jennie as she entered, and handing her the bunch without leaving his seat, as if it had been a pair of shoes.

“You're very kind, Mr. Quigg,” said the girl, laying them on the table, and still standing.

“I hear'd your brother Patsy was near smothered till Dutchy got him out. Was ye there?”