Page:Shiana - Peadar Ua Laoghaire.djvu/191

Rh "Well, well!" said Dermot. "Think of that! Did anyone ever hear the like of it? I did not think she would have married him if he had had all the wealth in Ireland. It is a strange world! That is a most extraordinary business if it be true. But it is more likely that there is no foundation for it. There could not be, of course."

"I don't know in the world," said the priest. "I suppose time will tell, and that soon. Time always tells best. I would not be at all surprised myself if there turned out to be a spice of truth in the rumour."

"Why, Father, dear," said Dermot, "what is that you are saying? There are no two in the parish more unfit for each other than that pair. Sive might do very well if she were married to some even-tempered, firm, well-balanced man, such as Shiana there above. Perhaps Cormac might do well if he were married to some silent, patient woman, who would give him his own way in every possible manner. But that pair! If they are married it will be red war with them as long as they live."

"I don't know in the world, Dermot," said the priest. "To tell you the truth, I fancy that perhaps matters may get on with them better than that. Certainly Cormac is a rough-tempered, headstrong man. I don't say that she would give him much odds in those points. Still, notwithstanding all that, you see, perhaps if they were married it might happen that they would get on better with each other than either of them would get on with anybody else. I have seen the like of it before."

"You have seen a great deal, Father, without a doubt in the world, but you do not know Sive thoroughly. It is not I that should say it; but