Page:The Land of Wonders - O Conaire.pdf/22

 16 Having done everything to her satisfaction, she sat in her husband's chair and began to think of his surprise and delight when he would see the place. You would hardly know it from their own room at home! And surely they would both be very lonely on the high seas away from the Burla and Maire Ban!

While this work was going on Maire Ban was in her cot dreaming. She thought she asleep heard a bell ringing and perhaps she did, for at that moment the ship's bell rang twice. She thought it was the school bell and that she would be late. Sister Mary Andrew was in charge of the school and you wouldn't wonder at a little girl being afraid of her! Maire jumped out of bed dragging the Burla with her. That young rogue had knotted their two nighties together before they went asleep!

Their mother heard the noise they made when they fell on the floor and she brought them out to see the result of her labours. The Burla had no idea he was on his father's ship.

"The floor is rocking, Mammy," said he, crying.

"And there are people walking on the roof," said Maire, rubbing her eyes.