Page 209 - The snake's pass

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UN MAUVAIS QUART D'HEUKl^. 197
As he was going out Dick turned to me, and
said :
"It is odd about the legend, isn't it ! The Snake
is in the Hill still, if I am not mistaken. He told me
all about your visits and the sale of the land to you, in
order to make mischief. But his time is coming; St.
"
Patrick will lift that crozier of his before long !
!
" But the Hill holds us all " said I ; and as I spoke
there was an ominous feeling over me. " We're not
through yet; but it will be all right now."
The last thing I saw was a smile on his face as he
closed the door.
The next morning Dick started for Knocknacar. It
had been arranged the night before that he should go on
Andy's car, as I preferred walking to Shleenanaher. I
had more than one reason for so doing, but that which
I kept in the foreground of my own mind—and which
I almost persuaded myself was the chief—if not the only
reason—was that I did not wish to be troubled with
Andy's curiosity and impertinent badinage. My real
and secret reason, however, was that I wished to be
alone so that I might collect my thoughts, and acquire
courage for what the French call un mauvais quart
d'heure.
In all classes of life, and under all conditions, this is
an ordeal eminently to. be dreaded by young men. No
amount of reason is of the least avail to them—there is
some horrible, lurking, unknown possibility which may
defeat all their hopes, and may, in addition, add the