The Young O'Briens

"I-I wonder will you look different, dad?" "Oh, yes," her mother laughed the pretty laugh that was just like Nell's, "I shall be a horrid, stout old woman! Even Sheila Pat won't acknowledge me then!" Sheila Pat said nothing. Mrs. O'Brien squeezed Nell's fingers tightly. There was another silence. There was nothing to say. Everything had been said over and over again. The wind sent the rain beating angrily against the closed windows. The omnibus jolted and jarred over the road. A hoarse shout smote on their ears, and the driver's whip flicked one of the panes. Denis jumped up and let down the small window in front. Then shouting began; the wind howled derisively, drowning their voices.