Page 111 - The snake's pass

ON KNOCKXACAR. 99
beyond expression she stretched forth her arms towards
the sea, as to something that she loved, and then, letting
them fall by her side, remained in a kind of waking
dream.
I slipped away, and when I was well out of sight,
ran down the hill about a hundred yards, and then
commenced the re-ascent, making a fair proportion of
noise as I came—now striking at the weeds with my
heavy stick, now whistling, and again humming a popular
air.
When I gained the top of the hill I started as though
surprised at seeing any one, much less a girl, in such a
place. I think I acted the part well—again I say that
at times the hypocrite in us can be depended upon ! She
was looking straight towards me, and certainly, so far
as I could tell, took me in good faith. I doffed my
hat and made some kind of stammering salutation as
one would to a stranger—the stammering not being, of
course, in the routine of such occasions, but incidental
to the special circumstances. She made me a graceful
curtsey, and a blush overspread her cheeks. I was afraid
to look too hard at her, especially at first, lest I should
frighten her away, but I stole a glance towards her at
every moment when I could.
How lovely she was ! I had heard that along the
West coast of Ireland there are traces of Spanish blood
and Spanish beauty; and here was a living evidence of
the truth of the hearsay. Not even at sunset in
the parades of Madrid or Seville, could one see more