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174 from home. I know where she was born and reared, and a bad rearing she was. She has no trade or way of living but to be going from place to place pretending that she has this supernatural knowledge, which, of course, she has not, any more than that hob has. If people would have sense and not be giving her money she would soon have to take up some other calling. But though the people are often told so, they will not take advice, and my talk is useless. It is no good for me to be at them."

"And, Father," said Dermot, "how did she find out that there was a hen crowing in this house? Or how did she find out that Sive was from home? Or how did she find out that I was myself in danger?"

"Nonsense, Dermot!" said the priest. "There is nothing easier than to find out things of that sort when one makes up one's mind to do so. Did not the whole country know the terrible work that was done here on the fair day? Did not the whole country know that Sive was from home, and that you were down with a fever? God bless the hearers! What was to prevent her from going here and there among the people and finding out everything about you? It is a fine easy way of making money."

"But how would she find out that there was a hen crowing in the house, Father?" said Dermot.

"I suppose," said the priest, "if there was a hen crowing in the house, there was nothing to prevent her getting that much information any more than getting all the rest."

"If there was a hen crowing in the house!" said Dermot. "Surely, Father, it there had not been she would not have said it."