Page 259 - The snake's pass

—
murdock's wooing. — — !
247
" Wait
! yes, I shall wait, but only till the time conies
to punish you. And let me warn you to be careful how
you speak of this lady ! I have shown you already how I
can deal with you personally ; next time—if there be a
next time " Here Murdock interrupted sotto voce—
" There '11 be a next time Be G-od but
; don't fear !
there will ! " I went on :
" I shall not dirty my hands with you but I shall
have you in gaol for slander."
"Gaol me, is it?" he sneered. "We'll see. An' so
ye think ye' re going to marry a lady, whin ye make an
honest woman iv Norah Joyce, do ye ? Luk at her
an' it's a lady ye're goin' to make iv her, is it? An'
thim hands iv hers, wid the marks iv the milkin' an'
the shpade on to them. My! but they'll luk well
among the quality ! won't they ? " I was going to
strike him again, but Norah laid her hand on my arm
;
so smothering my anger as well as I could, I said :
" Don't dare to speak ill of people whose shoes you
are not worthy to black ; and be quick about your
finishing your work at Shleenanaher, for you've got to
go when the time is up. I won't have the place
polluted by your presence a day longer than I can
help."
Norah looked wonderingly at me and at him, for he
had given a manifest start. I went on :
"
" And as for these hands —I took rTorah's hands in
—
mine " perhaps the time may come when you will pray
for the help of their honest strength — pray with all the