Page 197 - The snake's pass

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IN THE CLIFF FIELDS. 185
cross Dick on the way, so that I might see Norah and
get her answer without anyone knowing of my visit.
Having so made up my mind, I turned my steps towards
Eoundwood, and when I arrived there in the evening
sent a wire to Dick :
"Walked here, very tired; sleep here to-night; pro-
bably return to-morrow."
The long walk did me good, for it made me thoroughly
tired, and that night, despite my anxiety of mind, I
slept well—I went to sleep with Norah's name on my
lips.
The next day I arrived at Carnaclif about mid-day. I
found that Dick had taken Andy to Knockcalltecrore.
I waited until it was time to leave, and then started off.
About half a mile from the foot of the boreen I went
and sat in a clump of trees, where I could not be
seen, but from which I could watch the road ; and pre-
sently saw Dick passing along on Andy's car. When
they had quite gone out of sight, I went on my way to
the Cliff Fields.
I went with mingled feelings. There was hope, there
was joy at the remembrance of yesterday, there was ex-
pectation that I would see her again—even though the
result might be unhappiness, there was doubt, and there
was a horrible, haunting dread. My knees shook, and I
felt weak as I climbed the rocks. I passed across the
field and sat on the table-rock.
Presently she came to join me. With a queenly bear-
ing she passed over the ground, seeming to glide rather