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46 Matters went on in that way for three years. Then, by whatever means the report got abroad, it was spread throughout the district that Shiana was going to be married. It was understood that the match was made and that the day was fixed. All the beggars and tramps in the country-side were preparing for it. There was just one thing about the business that was rather strange. No two people were agreed as to who was to be the bride. The townspeople had settled that it was Grey Dermot's daughter. Dermot himself heard this report repeated so often that he believed every word of it, and I promise you he was well satisfied in his mind. He knew Shiana was rich and that he did not care at all for money, and so he thought, of course, that there would be no talk of a fortune. There was only one thing troubling him. The public had fixed a day for the marriage. That day was only a week off, but Shiana had never yet come to have any talk with him.

"I suppose," said Dermot to himself, "that he would come, if it were not that he does not mean to ask for any fortune with Sive. Very good. She is a fine handsome woman. A quiet sensible girl—if nothing happens to make her angry. 'A wife is better than a fortune.' Whoever was the first to say that had great wisdom! All the world can't beat a proverb."

Two days more passed and there was neither tale nor tidings of Shiana. Dermot was very much surprised. His daughter Sive was twice as much surprised.

"Go up," said she to her father, "and speak to that man, as he is so wanting in understanding as not to come himself to speak to you—or to me."