Page 165 - The snake's pass

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A VISIT TO JOYCE. — 153
lingering glance around, and noting the gathering of the
rain clouds, I descended the hill.
When I got up on the car I was not at all in a
talkative humour, and said but little to the group sur-
rounding me. I heard Andy account for it to them :
" Whisht don't notice his 'an'r's silence ! It's stupid
!
wid shmokin' he is. He lit no less nor siventeen cigars
this blissed day. Ax the neighbours av ye doubt me.
Gee up !
The evening was spent with Dick as the last had
been. I knew that he had seen his girl ; he knew that
I had not seen mine, but neither had anything to tell.
Before parting he told me that he expected to shortly
finish his work at Knockcalltecrore, and asked me if I
would come over.
"Do come," he said, when I expressed a doubt. " Do
come, I may want a witness," so I promised to go.
Andy had on his best suit, and a clean wash, when
he met us smiling in the early morning, " Look at him,"
I said, "wouldn't you know he was going to meet his
"
best girl ?
" Begor," he answered, " mayhap we'll all do that
"
same !
It was only ten o'clock when we arrived at Knockcall-
tecrore, and went up the boreen to Murdock's new farm.
The Gombeen Man was standing at the gate with his
watch in his hand. When we came up, he said :
" I feared you would be late. It's just conthract time
now. Hadn't ye betther say good-bye to your frind an'