Page:The Snake's Pass (Stoker).djvu/154

 "Oh, bother Miss Norah!" said I. "Get along with you—do! I think you've got Miss Norah on the brain; or perhaps you're in love with her yourself." Andy murmured sotto voce, but manifestly for me to hear:—

"Begor, I am, like the rist iv the bhoys—av course"

Here I looked at my watch, and found it was three o'clock, so thought it was time to get rid of him.

"Here," said I "run down to the men at the cutting and tell them that I'm coming down presently to measure up their work, as Mr. Sutherland will want to know how they've got on."

Andy moved off. Before going, however, he had something to say, as usual:—

"Tell me, Misther Art"—this new name startled me, Andy had evidently taken me into his public family—"do ye think Misther Dick"—this was another surprise—"has an eye on Miss Norah?" There was a real shock this time.

"I see him lukin' at her wance or twice as if he'd like to ate her; but, bedad, it's no use if he has, for she wouldn't luk at him. No wondher! an' him helpin' to be takin' her father's houldin' away from him."

I could not answer Andy's question as to poor old Dick's feelings, for such was his secret, and not mine; but I determined not to let there be any misapprehension regarding his having a hand in Murdock's dirty work, so I spoke hotly:—

"You tell anyone that dares to say that Dick