Her thoughtful face brightened into a smile, and her walk became more brisk as she left her garden, and went again into the farm-yard.
The cow-man was bringing up the cows to be milked, and he looked astonished as he greeted his mistress.

So did the two ruddy, disheveled farm maidens, who had barely turned out of their beds to milk the cows, and had paid small attention either to their toilet or ablutions.
The house was perfectly quiet as she entered it, and she crept upstairs, and into her bedroom very softly, for fear of disturbing any one.
'Where in the world have you been, my dear ?' greeted her, in a gruff voice from amongst the bed-clothes, that covered a large old-fashioned bed, hung with chintz curtains.
'Go to sleep and don't trouble, Davy, _bach'_, [Footnote A Welsh term of endearment, equivalent to 'dear,' pronounced like the German.] quietly replied the brisk little dame.
'Go to sleep, indeed! Easier said than done, when one wakes up in a fright, and finds you gone, nobody knows where.

Now where _have_ you been?
You 'ont let one sleep, even of a Sunday morning.' 'Well, now, don't get into a passion, my dear--I mean, don't be angry.' 'What have I to be angry about when I don't know what you've been doing ?' This was said in an injured tone, as if the heart under the bed-clothes were softer than the voice.
'I didn't mean to say you were angry, only I thought--' 'You thought what ?' 'Well, my dear, I have only just been across to the barn.' This was uttered timidly and pleadingly, and as if our good housewife knew she had been doing wrong.
Suddenly, a large red face started up from amongst the bed-clothes, ornamented with a peculiarly-shaped white cap and tassel.
'Now you haven't been after them Irishers again ?' exclaimed the owner of the red face.

'The idle vagabonds! I vow to goodness that all our money, and food and clothing, too, I believe, go to feed a set of good-for-nothing, ragged rascals.' 'Hush, Davy! Remember they are God's creatures, and this is Sunday.' 'I don't know that.

And if it's Sunday, why mayn't I sleep in peace ?' 'Indeed, I am very sorry.