Page 218 - The snake's pass

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206 THE snake's pass. — —
" I hope I am man enough to do what is best for
her, even if it were to break my heart. But she
must marry some time ; it is the lot of the young
!
and beautiful " Joyce paused a while, and his look
grew very tender as he made answer softly:
" Aye ! thrue ! thrue ! the young birds lave the nist in
due sayson—that's only natural." This seemed sufficient
concession for the present; but Andy's warning rose
before me, and I spoke :
" Mr. Joyce, God knows ! I don't want to add one drop
of bitterness to either of your lives ! only tell me that I
may have hope, and I am content to wait and to try
to win your esteem and Norah's love."
The father drew his daughter closer to him, and with
his other hand stroked her hair, and said, whilst his
eyes filled with tears :
" Ye didn't wait for me esteem to win her love ! "
Norah threw herself into his arms and hid her face
on his breast. He went on :
" We can't undo what is done. If Norah loves ye
and it seems to me that she does—do I shpeak thrue,
daughter ? " The girl raised her face bravely, and
looked in her father's eyes :
" Yes! father." A thrill of wild delight rushed through
me. As she dropped her head again, I could see that
her neck had
" The colour of the budding rose's crest."
!
" Well Joyce went " Ye both
! well " on, are