He resolved, however, to follow up the impression which he
felt, and accordingly in a few minutes after her father had taken his
departure, he brought her aside, and without giving her a moment to
concoct a reply, he asked what it was that he saw her thrusting in such
a hurried manner into his bag. She reddened like scarlet, and, after
pausing a moment, replied, "Nothing, sir, but an ould pair of shoes."
"Was that all?" he asked.
"That was all, sir," she replied.
The blush and hesitation, however, with which she answered him were
far from satisfactory; and without more ado he walked briskly down the
avenue, and overtook her father near the gate at its entrance.
"Peety," said he, "what was that your daughter Nanny put into your bag a
while ago? I wish to know?"
"Deed an its scarcely worth your while, Master Hycy," replied the
mendicant; "but since you'd like to know, it was a pair of ould brogues,
and here they are," he added, "if you wish to see them."
He laid down the bag as he spoke, and was proceeding to pull them out,
when Hycy, who felt angry with himself as well as ashamed at being
detected in such a beggarly and unbecoming act of espionage, turned
instantly back, after having vented several hearty curses upon the
unfortunate mendicant and his bags.
As he approached the hall-door, however, he met Nanny crossing into the
kitchen-yard, and from the timid and hesitating glance she cast at
him, some vague suspicion again occurred, and he resolved to enter into
further conversation with her.
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