Page:The Snake's Pass (Stoker).djvu/275

 that I suddenly started broad awake with a strong sense of something forgotten, and found that it was four o'clock, and time to get ready for my journey. I did not lose any time, and after a hot cup of tea, which the cheery Mrs. Keating had herself prepared for me, was on my way under Andy's care to Recess, where we were to meet the "long car" to Galway.

Andy was, for a wonder, silent, and as I myself felt in a most active frame of mind, this rather gave me an opportunity for some amusement. I waited for a while to see if he would suggest any topic in his usual style; but as there was no sign of a change, I began:—

"You are very silent to-day, Andy. You are sad! What is it?"

"I'm thinkin'!"

"So I thought, Andy. But who are you thinking of?"

"Faix, I'm thinkin' iv poor Miss Norah there wid ne'er a bhoy on the flure at all, at all; an' iv the fairy girrul at Knocknacar—the poor craythur waitin' for some kind iv a leprachaun to come back to her. They do say, yer 'an'r, that the fairies is mighty fond iv thim leprachauns intirely. Musha! but it's a quare thing that weemen of all natures thinks a power more iv minkind what is hard to be caught nor iv thim that follys thim an' is had aisy!"

"Indeed! Andy." I felt he was getting on dangerous ground, and thought it would be as well to keep him to generalities if I could.