Page 263 - The snake's pass

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murdock's wooing. 251
them?— and if we spoke in whispers?—or, if now and
again, when the lane curved and kindly bushes pro-
jecting threw dark shadows, our lips met?
When we came to the open space before the gate,
we found Andy. He pretended to see only Dick and
Joyce, and saluted them :
" Begor ! but it's the fine night, it is, Misther Dick,
though more betoken the rain is comin' on agin soon.
A fine night, Misther Joyce! and how's Miss Norah?
God bless her! Musha! but it's sorry I am that she
didn't walk down wid ye this fine night ! An' poor
Masther Art—I suppose the fairies has got him agin?"
Here he pretended to just catch sight of me. " Yer
'an'r, but it's the sorraful man I was—shure, an' I thought
ye was tuk aff be the fairies—or, mayhap, it was houldin'
a leprachaun that ye wor. An' my ! but there's Miss
Norah, too, comin' to take care iv her father God bless
!
ye, Miss Norah, Acushla !—but it's glad I am to see
"
ye !
" And I'm always glad to see you, Andy," she said,
and shook hands with him.
Andy took her aside, and said, in a staccato whisper
intended for us all :
" Musha dear, may
! Miss Norah, I ax ye some-
thin'?"
"
" Indeed you may, Andy. What is it ?
"Well, now, it's throubled in me mind I am about
Masther Art—that young gintleman beyant ye, talkin'
t' yer father!" the hypocritical villain pointed me out,