Page:Darby O'Gill and the Good People by Herminie Templeton Kavanagh (1903).djvu/31

Rh I’m going to set you free, Darby O’Gill, that’s what I am.”

“Why, King,” says Darby, putting on a mournful face, “how have I offended ye?”

“No offence at all,” says the King, “only we’re depriving you.”

“No depravity in life!” says Darby. “I have lashins and lavings to ate and to drink and nothing but fun an’ divarsion all day long. Out in the worruld it was nothing but work and throuble and sickness, disappointment and care.”

“But Bridget and the childher?” says the King, giving him a sharp look out of half-shut eyes.

“Oh, as for that, King,” says Darby, “it’s aisier for a widow to get a husband or for orphans to find a father than it is for them to pick up a sovereign a day.”

The King looked mighty satisfied and smoked for a while without a word.

“Would you mind goin’ out an evenin’ now and then, helpin’ the boys to mind the cows?” he asked at last.

Darby feared to trust himself outside in their company. Rh