Page 375 - The snake's pass

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THE FULFILMENT. — 3G3
other old friend also present, but I did not know it until
I came out of the vestry, after signing the register, with
my wife on my arm.
There, standing modestly in the background, and with
a smile as manifest as a ten acre field, was none other
than Andy—Andy so well dressed and smart that there
was really nothing to distinguish him from any other
man in Hythe. Norah saw him first, and said heartily :
"Why, there is Andy! How are you, Andy?" and
held out her hand. Andy took it in his great fist, and
stooped and kissed it as if it had been a saint's hand
and not a woman's :
" God bless and keep ye, Miss Norah darlin'—an' the
Virgin and the saints watch over ye both." Then he
shook hands with me.
" Thank you, Andy !" we said both together, and then I
beckoned Dick and whispered to him.
We went back to breakfast in my rooms, and sat down
as happy a party as could be—the only one not quite
comfortable at first being Andy. He and Dick both came
in quite hot and flushed. Dick pointed to him:
" He's an obstinate, truculent villain, is Andy.
Why, I
had to almost fight him to make him come in. Now,
Andy, no running away—it is Miss Norah's will!" and
Andy subsided bashfully into a seat. It was fully several
minutes before he either smiled or winked. We had a
couple of hours to pass before it became time to leave
for Folkestone; and when breakfast was over, one and
then another said a few kindly words. Dick opened the