Page 212 - The snake's pass

200 " " THE snake's pass. — — "
Shleenanaher. Fairies may want to take the wather
like mortials."
" Take the water, Andy ! what do ye mean ? "
" What do I mane ! why what the quality does call
say-bathin'. An' maybe, the fairy girrul has gone
too !
" Ah ! no, Andy," said I, in as melancholy a way as I
could, "my fairy girl is gone. I shall never see her
again !
Andy looked at me very keenly; and then a twinkle
came in his eye and he said, slapping his thigh :
" Begor ! but I believe yer 'an'r is cured ! Ye used
to be that melancholy that bedad it's meself what was
gettin' sarious about ye ; an' now it's only narvous ye
are ! Well ! if the fairy is gone, why not see Miss
Norah ? Sure wan sight iv her 'd cure all the fairy
spells what iver was cast. Go now, yer 'an'r, an' see
"
her this day !
I said with decision, "No, Andy, I will not go to-
day to see Miss Norah. I have something else to do !
"Oh, very well!" said he with simulated despondency.
" If yer 'an'r won't, of course ye won't ! but ye're wrong.
At any rate, if ye're in the direction iv Shleenanaher,
will ye go an' see th' ould man ? Musha ! but I'm
thinkin' it's glad he'd be to see yer 'an'r."
Despite all I could do, I felt blushing up to the
roots of my hair. Andy looked at me quizzically; and
said oracularly, and with sudden seriousness :
" Begor if yer fairy girrul is turned into a fairy com-
!