Page:English as we speak it in Ireland - Joyce.djvu/26

CH. II.] :—‘He is a great old schemer, that's what he is’: ‘I spoke up to the master and showed him he was wrong—I did begob.’

I asked a man one day: ‘Well, how is the young doctor going on in his new place?’ and he replied ‘Ah, how but well’; which he meant to be very emphatic: and then he went on to give particulars.

A strong denial is often expressed in the following way: ‘This day will surely be wet, so don't forget your umbrella’: ‘What a fool I am’: as much as to say, ‘I should be a fool indeed to go without an umbrella to-day, and I think there's no mark of a fool about me.’ ‘Now Mary don't wait for the last train [from Howth] for there will be an awful crush.’ ‘What a fool I'd be ma’am.’ ‘Oh Mr. Lory I thought you were gone home [from the dance] two hours ago’: ‘What a fool I am,’ replies Lory (‘Knocknagow’), equivalent to ‘I hadn't the least notion of making such a fool of myself while there's such fun here.’ This is heard everywhere in Ireland, ‘from the centre all round to the sea.’

Much akin to this is Nelly Donovan's reply to Billy Heffernan who had made some flattering remark to her:—‘Arrah now Billy what sign of a fool do you see on me?’ (‘Knocknagow.’)

An emphatic assertion or assent: ‘Yesterday was very wet.’ Reply:—‘You may say it was,’ or ‘you may well say that.’

‘I'm greatly afeard he'll try to injure me.’ Answer:—‘’Tis fear for you’ (emphasis on for), meaning ‘you have good reason to be afeard’: merely a translation of the Irish is eagal duitse.