Page 255 - The snake's pass

" —
murdock's wooing. — — 243
"
" And wliat, now, might that be ? —the tone was
of veiled sarcasm.
" She'll have all the money that I settle on her to
dale wid as she likes—that is, the intherest iv it—as
long as she lives ; an' I'm to have the Cliff Fields
that is her's, as me own to do what I like wid, an'
that them an' all in them belongs to me." Joyce
paused a moment before answering :
" Is that all ye have to say ? " Murdock seemed
nonplussed, but after a slight pause he answered:—
"Yis!"
"An' ye want me answer?"
" Iv coorse !
"Thin, Murtagh Murdock, I'd like to ask ye for why
me daughter would marry you or the like of you? Is
it because that yer beauty 'd take a young girl's
fancy — you that's known as the likest thing to a divil in
these parts ! Or is it because of yer kind nature ? You
that tried to ruin her own father, and that drove both
her and him out of the home she was born in, and
where her poor mother died! Is it because yer cha-
racther is respicted in the counthry wheriver yer name
is known ? " Here Murdock interrupted him :
" I tould ye it's a warrum man I am "—he spoke
—
decisively, as if his words were final " an' I can, an' will,
settle a fortin on her." Joyce answered slowly and with
infinite scorn :
" Thank ye, Mr. Murtagh Murdock, but me daughter
"
is not for sale !