Page:Shiana - Peadar Ua Laoghaire.djvu/83

Rh moving. Soon he had to open them again for very fear and terror. At last a cloud came over the moon, and the malvogue was brought back to its own shape. It was a great relief. Michael thanked God fervently, you may be sure, and he must have fallen at once into a sound sleep, for the next thing he was aware of was the sun shining on the malvogue instead of the moon, the work going on around him, the soft whistling of the men, the tapping of the little hammers, and the drawing and tightening of the waxed thread. He looked over at Shiana's place. Shiana himself was there, working as hard and as diligently as if he could get no supper till that shoe was sold.

Michael stood up and looked across at his own seat.

"Michael," said Shiana, "go you home and have something to eat, and take another sleep. You have earned this day's wages for last night. You need not come to work till to-morrow morning."

As he spoke he looked at Michael, and in spite of the sleep in Michael's eyes, he noticed the look. Shiana looked ten years older than he had looked the day before. Michael went away home, but that look did not leave his memory.

"There is some terrible trouble upon him," he said to himself. "I must tell my mother of it and consult with her as to what should be done."

He reached the house, but when he did, there was neither tale nor tidings of his mother there. There was not a living Christian there. He searched all round the house. He called her. It was no use.

"Well, well, well," said he, "did anybody ever see the like? As sure as there is a ferrule on a beggar's stick, she has gone down to Grey Dermot's