Page:The Snake's Pass (Stoker).djvu/220

 that it held us; however, as lightly as I could I spoke:—

"Then I would claim her now!"

"What do ye mane?"—this was said half anxiously, half fiercely.

"The treasure of Knockcalltecrore is here; you hold her in your arms!" He bent over her:—

"Aye! the threasure sure enough—the threasure ye would rob me of!" Then he turned to me, and said sternly, but not unkindly:—

"Go, now! I can't bear more at prisent; and even me daughter may wish to be for a while alone wid me!" I bowed my head and turned to leave the room; but as I was going out, he called me back:—

"Shtay! Afther all, the young is only young. Ye seem to have done but little harm—if any." He held out his hand; I grasped it closely, and from that instant it seemed that our hearts warmed to each other. Then I felt bolder, and stepping to Norah took her hand—she made no resistance—and pressed it to my lips, and went out silently. I had hardly left the door when Joyce came after me.

"Come agin in an hour," he said, and went in and shut the door.

Then I wandered to the rocks and climbed down the rugged path into the Cliff Fields. I strode through the tall grass and the weeds, rank with the continuous rain, and gained the table rock. I climbed it, and sat where I first had met my love, after