Page 253 - The snake's pass

murdock's wooing. 241
"
" Good evenin', Phelim Joyce
!
"
" Good evenin'
! You want me ?
" I do." Murdock's voice was fixed and firm, as of
one who has made up his mind.
"
" What is it ?
" May I come in ? I want to shpake to ye par-
ticular."
" No, Murtagh Murdock ! Whin a man comes undher
me roof by me own consint, I'm not free wid him to
spake me mind the same as whin he's outside. Ye
haven't thrated me well, Murdock. Ye've been hard
"
wid me ; and there's much that I can't forgive !
" Well
! if I did, ye gev me what no other man has
ever gave me yit widout repintin' it sore. Ye sthruck
me a blow before all the people, an' I didn't strike ye
back."
" I did, Murtagh an' I'm That blow
; sorry for it.
has been hangin' on me conscience iver since. I would
take it back if I could God knows that is thrue.
;
Much as ye wronged me, I don't want such a thing
as that to remimber when me eyes is closin'. Murtagh
"
Murdock, I take it back, an' gladly. Will ye let me ?
" I will—on wan condition."
''What is it?"
"That's what I've kem here to shpake about; but
I'd like to go in."
" No ! ye can't do that—not yit, at any rate, till I
know what ye want. Ye must remimber, Murtagh,
"
that I've but small rayson to thrust ye !