Page:Shiana - Peadar Ua Laoghaire.djvu/50

36 which the 'virtue of the Holy Things' was laid upon me, it's no great thing. 'It will be as plump the last day as it is now'—upon my word, it'll be no wonder if it is!"

He went on talking to himself like that for a long time. At last he jumped up.

"I will go now, at once," said he, "and I'll pay Dermot, and I'll bring home some more leather."

He went on straight ahead, and never stopped until he was in front of Dermot's house.

Dermot was standing between the two doorposts in the same way as he had been the day before. He was accustomed to spend a great deal of his time like that, standing in the doorway, with his shoulder to the doorpost, looking down the road and up the road, by turns.

"Why, Shiana, what's happened to you?" said Dermot.

"Nothing at all, indeed, Dermot," said he, "but I have come to you with your money. Here it is for you." And he handed him a pound.

"It wasn't long coming in to you," said Dermot, and he gave a queer look at Shiana, as if he doubted that it was not out of his trade he had got the money.

Shiana understood the look, and he said, "This was promised to me before the fair, and I didn't get it until to-day."

"Well," said Dermot, "and what need was there for all the hurry? Wouldn't it have done at the end of a week or a fortnight? You are as fagged as if you hadn't lain down on a bed for three nights. Were you out anywhere last night?"

"Out anywhere last night? Why, where should