210 WHISPERS FROM YAIRVLAND. [Iv.

sung by what she called ‘a parcel of little hgp-i-my-
thumb creatures,’ such as she had often eaten on
bread and butter, three or four at a mouthful, for her
tea, and thought nothing of it. In fact, as she gazed
upon them, she could not help thinking how much
better the little things looked boiled than when alive
in the water, and heartily wishing that she could
sweep the whole lot of them into one of her husband’s
trawling nets: this however was impossible at the
moment, and her meditation was broken in upon by
another incident of a very different character.

Walking along the bank, and coming directly
towards her, were three ladies dressed in the height
of fashion. They had such small bonnets upon their
heads that you could scarcely tell whether they were
bonnets at all, or only a few feathers fastened together
upon the hair, especially as they had no strings upon
them. Their dress was altogether such as I cannot
pretend to describe, not being used to the sort of
thing, but if any young gentleman who reads this
story will consider which of his sisters dresses best in
the London season, he will be able to form some
idea of the appearance of the three persons who now
approached Molly Goodchild. Nearer and nearer
they came, and wore sweet smiles upon their faces as
they accosted the fisherman’s wife.

‘Good woman,’ said one of them, fixing upon
Molly a pair of eyes which were bright with an un-
natural light which made her almost tremble in spite
of herself, ‘how came you here? Not but what
you are very welcome. Come into the wood-walks
with us, and you shall see how pleasant the island is,’