Patrick Kirk was raking the gravel on the road into pretty criss-cross patterns, and Tattine was pretending to help him with her own garden rake.
Patrick was one of Tattine's best friends and she loved to work with him and to talk to him.Patrick was a fine old Irishman, there was no doubt whatever about that, faithful and conscientious to the last degree.Every morning he would drive over in his old buggy from his little farm in the Raritan Valley, in abundant time to begin work on the minute of seven, and not until the minute of six would he lay aside spade or hoe and turn his steps towards his old horse tied under the tree, behind the barn.But the most attractive thing about Patrick was his genial kindly smile, a smile that said as plainly as words, that he had found life very comfortable and pleasant, and that he was still more than content with it notwithstanding that his back was bowed with work month in and month out, and the years were hurrying him fast on into old age.
And so Tattine was fond of Patrick, for what (child though she was) she knew him to be, and they spent many a delightful hour in each other's company.
"Patrick," said Tattine, on this particular morning, when they were raking away side by side, "does Mrs.Kirk ever have a day at home?" and she glanced at Patrick a little mischievously, doubting if he would know just what she meant.
"Shure she has all her days at home, Miss Tattine, save on a holiday, when we go for a day's drive to some of our neighbors', but I doubt if I'm catching just what you're maning.""Oh! I mean does she have a day sometimes when she gets ready for company and expects to have people come and see her, the way ladies do in town?""Well, no, miss; she don't do tbat, for, tin to one, nobody'd come if she did.
We belongs to the workin' classes, Molly and I, and we has no time for the doing of the loikes of city people.""I'm sorry she hasn't a day," said Tattine, "because--because--""If ye're maning that you'd like to give us a call, miss," said Patrick, beginning to take in the situation, "shure she could have a day at home as aisy as the foinest lady, and proud indeed she'd be to have it with your little self for the guest of honor.""I would like to bring Rudolph and Mabel, Patrick.""And what should hinder, miss?"
"And I'd like to have it an all-day-at-home, say from eleven in the morning until five in the afternoon, and not make just a little call, Patrick.""Of course, miss, a regular long day, with your donkey put into a stall in the barn, and yourselves and the donkey biding for the best dinner we can give ye.""And I'd like to have you there, Patrick, because we might not feel AT HOMEjust with Mrs.Kirk."
