Page:West Irish folk-tales and romances - William Larminie.djvu/141

 Rh He saw the woman coming near them, with a bundle in her hand. “I don't know,” said he, “who that woman over there is.” The master looked.

“It is my wife,” said he, “coming with our dinner.

“What a right sort of woman!” said Jack.

“When the mistress came to them she was ashamed to go past. They sat down and went to take their dinner. They had a good dinner. There were a great many eggs.

“It's a pity,” said the master, “the man over there hasn't some dinner.”

“Musha,” said Jack, “I'll go and bring him some.”

“Do,” said the mistress.

Jack got up, and said he, “I'll take some eggs to be eating on the way.” He took a handful of eggs. When he was gone a little way from them he let one of the eggs fall on the ground. He was dropping the eggs on the road. When he got as far as the man he sat down and began chatting.

Said the mistress, “He won't come over till the dinner's good for nothing.”

“I'll go over myself,” said the master. He got up and he went over, but he wasn't gone far when he came on an egg. He stooped and picked it up. He was gathering the eggs on the road.