Page:G. B. Lancaster-The tracks we tread.djvu/294

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Chapter XX

Blake’s hotel was upside down and inside out. For all the boys from Mains and from Behar were down to do honour to Danny's wedding: and up and along the passages; in the kitchen and the bar, violins were tuning and stray voices whistling the "Bride's March." On the side-path a dozen beat step, with gusts of talk and laughter blown out with the to- bacco wreaths.

Moody sat on the horse trough, dabbing his forehead with a red handkerchief. For the tenth time he had dragged Tod over the Town Hall floor on a sack, and, by Tod's sworn word, "There was not a bhoy in Argyle wud stand up on ut the night, wid the shine of ut."

"On'y Dennis," said Ike, strong in the pride of his new black flannel shirt and a white tie. "He's bavin' ter dance in socks, yer knows."

Dennis was Danny's elder brother, and un- married, and the punishment thereof was an ancient law in the township.

"Sure, then, who wud be lookin' at Dinnis

the night?" cried Tod. "An' here comes hersilf

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