Page 275 - The snake's pass

"
A TRIP TO PARIS. — 263 ; ! s
that I suddenly started broad awake with a strong sense
of something forgotten, and found that it was four
o'clock, and time to get ready for my journey. I did not
lose any time, and after a hot cup of tea, which the
cheery Mrs. Keating had herself prepared for me, was on
my way under Andy's care to Eecess, where we were
to meet the " long car " to G-alway.
Andy was, for a wonder, silent, and as I myself felt in
a most active frame of mind, this rather gave me an
opportunity for some amusement. I waited for a while
to see if he would suggest any topic in his usual style
but as there was no sign of a change, I began :
" You are very silent to-day, Andy. You are sad
"
What is it ?
"
" I'm thinkin'
!
"So I thought, Andy. But who are you thinking
of?"
" Faix, I'm thinkin* iv poor Miss Norah there wid
ne'er a bhoy on the flure at all, at all ; an' iv the fairy
girrul at Knocknacar—the poor craythur waitin' for some
kind iv a leprachaun to come back to her. They do say,
yer 'an'r, that the fairies is mighty fond iv thim
leprachauns intirely. Musha ! but it's a quare thing
that weemen of all natures thinks a power more iv min-
kind what is hard to be caught nor iv thim that folly
!
thim an' is had aisy
" Indeed ! Andy." I felt he was getting on dangerous
ground, and thought it would be as well to keep him to
generalities if I could.