When she had something vital to accomplish she went straight at it, and certainly nothing more vital than her present mission had come her way for weeks.
That the news she carried had something to do with O'Day's happiness, she was convinced, or Father Cruse would not have been so insistent.
That the woman herself was, in some way, connected with his misfortunes, she also suspected--and had done so, in reality, ever since the night on which she gave him the sleeve-links.

She had not said so to John; she had not hinted as much to Father Cruse; but she had never dismissed the possibility from her mind.
"I'm sorry, ma'am," she said, ignoring Felix and going straight to the cause of the embargo, "but couldn't ye let me have Mr.O'Day for a few minutes?
I've somethin' very partic'lar to say to him." "Why, Mistress Kitty--" began Felix, smiling at her audacity, the customer also regarding her with amused curiosity.
"Yes, Mr.O'Day, I wouldn't butt in if I could help it.

Excuse me, ma'am, but there's Otto just got loose, and--Otto, come over here and take care of this lady who is goin' to let me have Mr.O'Day for half an hour.

Thank ye, ma'am, you don't know me, but I'm Kitty Cleary, the expressman's wife, from across the street, and I'm always mixin' in where I don't belong and I know ye'll forgive me.

Otto'll charge ye twice the price Mr.O'Day would, but he can't help it because he's Dutch.