Page:Live and Let Live.djvu/60

 Lucy's code, which prescribed to her to act openly; but this was Bridget's affair, and she quietly followed her with the lamp while she carried Judy to the attic. "Now, Lucy, honey," said Bridget, "keep a dumb tongue, and take this shilling, and fetch the liny-stuff from the 'potecaries.' It will be soon enough to be after telling her when we can't help it."

"But if the bell should ring, and we both out of the kitchen?"

"You're not such a natural, Lucy, you can't give a rason when it's wanted?"

"But I must give the right one, Biddy." Bridget was too much absorbed in Judy, and too grateful for Lucy's services, to be offended by the implication of Lucy's reply, and she had quite forgotten it when Lucy returned, sooner than she expected, with the liniment, and a bag of warmed sand, which "Mother said (and truly) was the best thing in the world to lay to cold feet."

"Ah, how should ye know everything, and ye such a childer?"

"It's having our Jemmie always sick, and mother to teach me."

"Och, poor Judy! All her mother did for her was to bring her into this miserable world, poor darlint! God help her! But hark! there's the bell!"

"And what is all this pattering up and down stairs for?" asked Mrs. Broadson, who had an ubiquitous pair of ears. Lucy explained. "And who proposed putting that sick child to bed in my house, and no leave asked?"

"I did, ma'am; she was too sick to go out such