Page 172 - The snake's pass
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CHAPTER IX.
MY NEW PROPERTY.
The following week was a time to me of absolute bitter-
ness. I went each day to Knocknacar, where the cutting
was proceeding at a rapid rate. I haunted the hill-top,
but without the slightest result. Dick had walked over
with me on Sunday, and had been rejoiced at the pro-
gress made ; he said that if all went well we could about
Friday next actually cut into the bog. Already there
was a distinct infiltration through the cutting, and we
discussed the best means to achieve the last few feet
of the work so as not in any way to endanger the safety
of the men working.
All this time Dick was in good spirits. His meeting
with Norah's father had taken a great and harrowing
weight off his mind, and to him all things were now pos-
sible in the future. He tried his best to console me
for my disappointment. He was full of hope—indeed
he refused to see anything but a delay, and I could
see that in his secret heart he was not altogether sorry
that my love affair had received a temporary check.
This belief was emphasized by the tendency of certain of
