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Shiana came on the following day to see how the sick man was, and he took away some more of the leather that was in the shop and paid for it. It was well he did. That left some money to the nurse, so that when Dermot came to the crisis, she was able to provide the food and drink which were necessary, and to give them to him according as he required.

Very soon she had him sitting up beside the fire, and extremely eager for food. But indeed she used not to give it to him, except as much as she considered was good for him, and you never saw such fighting and arguing as he used to have with her trying to get more.

According as he got better the neighbours used to be gathering in and making enquiries, and telling how grieved they were when they heard of his illness, and how glad they were to find him recovering.

When Shiana found him getting really better and out of danger he did not come so often, and after a little time his visits ceased.

The nurse remained longer than she thought necessary, but the priest was the cause of that, for he was expecting from time to time and from day to day that Sive would return home. At last the nurse got a call from the opposite side of the parish, and she bad to go.

The only thing they could do then was to ask poor old Poll to come every morning and light the fire