Page 167 - The snake's pass

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A VISIT TO JOYCE. — — 155
It was a much better built and more roomy structure
than the one he had left. It was not, however, like the
other, built on a rock, but in a sheltered hollow. Dick
pointed out this to me, and remarked:
" I don't know but that Joyce is better off, all told,
in the exchange. I wouldn't care myself to live in a
house built in a place like this, and directly in the track
of the bog."
" Not even," said I, "if Norah was living in it
too?"
! With Norah I'd take my
" Ah, that's another thing
chance and live in the bog itself, if I could get no other
place."
When this happened, our day's work was nearly done,
and very soon we took our leave for the evening, Murdock
saying, as I thought rather offensively :
" Now, you, sir, be sure to be here in time on Monday
morning."
"All right!" said Dick, nonchalantly; and we passed
out. In the boreen, he said to me :
"Let us stroll up this way, Art," and we walked
up the hill towards Joyce's house, Murdock coming
down to his gate and looking at us. When we came
to Joyce's gate, we stopped. There was no sign of Norah;
but Joyce himself stood at his door. I was opening
the gate when he came forward.
" Good evening, Mr. Joyce," said I. " How is your
arm? I hope quite well by this time. Perhaps you
don't remember me—I had the pleasure of giving you