Page:Shiana - Peadar Ua Laoghaire.djvu/231

Rh looked at Sive. Sive looked at Cormac. Cormac looked about him. The company rose to their feet. Sive went out. She returned again immediately, wearing the red cloak, and you would think the golden drops on the cape were lighted candles.

Then the couple went up before the priest, and he married them.

When they were married and the blessing of the Church read over them, John Kittach took up a clean plate and he put a gold guinea on the plate. Shiana put a guinea on the plate. Short Mary put a guinea from herself upon it. So with them all round. There was no one who did not put some money upon it. When they had all been gone over, Cormac came and put three guineas on the plate, and, well became Sive! she put three guineas from herself upon it.

"Indeed, Father," said the big tinker, "I think it is a good thing for your reverence that it is not in the 'City-far-away' that this marriage has been performed."

"Indeed, Patrick," said the priest, "I think so, too, and that it is no less a good thing for all those who are here to-night. And I also think that the least we all may do is to ask the God of glory, praise be to Him! to give a long happy life to Cormac and Sive, and if they are well off to-night in the grace of God and of the world, that they may be seven times better off this night next year, and if not better off, may they not be worse off! Grandchildren to your grandchildren, Dermot!"

"Amen, O Lord!" said the company, again and again.

While that "amen" was going on, the married