Page 308 - The snake's pass

296 — THE snake's pass. — ;
to reduce my satisfaction with life to the level above
which man's happiness may not pass.
There was a curse on the hill! I felt it and realized
it at that moment for the first time. I suppose I must
have shown something of my brooding fear in my face,
for Dick, looking round at me after a period of silence,
said suddenly :
" Cheer up Art, old chap Surely you, at any rate,
!
have no cause to be down on your luck ! Of all men that
live, I should think you ought to be about the very
"
happiest !
" That's it, old fellow," I answered. " I fear that
there must be something terrible coming. I shall never
be quite happy till Norah and all of us are quite away
from the Hill."
Why, you have just
" What on earth do you mean ?
"
bought the whole place !
" It may seem foolish, Dick ; but the words come back
to me and keep ringing in my ears — ' The Mountain
holds—and it holds tight.' " Dick laughed :
" Well, Art, if you
it is not my fault, or Mr. Caicy's,
don't hold it tight. It is yours now, every acre of it
and, if I don't mistake, you are going to make it in time
—and not a long time either—into the fairest bower to
which the best fellow ever brought the fairest lady !
There now, Art, isn't that a pretty speech?"
Dick's words made me feel ashamed of myself, and
I made an effort to pull myself together, which lasted
until Dick and I said good-night.