Page 114 - The snake's pass

102 THE SNAKE'S PASS. ;
be here in this neighbourhood for some time, I dare say I
shall often find myself enjoying this lovely view."
She made no reply or comment whatever to this state-
ment. I looked over the scene, and it was certainly a
fit setting for so lovely a figure ; but it was the general
beauty of the scene, and not, as had hitherto been the
case, one part of it only that struck my fancy. Away
on the edge of the coast-line rose Knockcalltecrore
but it somehow looked lower than before, and less im-
portant. The comparative insignificance was of course
due to the fact that I was regarding it from a superior
altitude, but it seemed to me that it was because it did
not now seem to interest me so much. That sweet voice
through the darkness seemed very far away now—here
was a voice as sweet, and in such a habitation ! The
invisible charm with which Shleenanaher had latterly
seemed to hold me—or the spell which it had laid upon
me, seemed to pass away, and I found myself smiling
that I should ever have entertained such an absurd idea
Youth is not naturally stand off, and before many
minutes the two visitors to the hill-top had laid aside
reserve and were chatting freely. I had many questions to
ask of local matters, for I wanted to find out what I could
of my fair companion without seeming to be too inqui-
sitive ; but she seemed to fight shy of all such topics, and
when we parted my ignorance of her name and surround-
ings remained as profound as it had been at first. She,
however, wanted to know all about London. She knew it
only by hearsay; for some of the questions which she