SHIANA
93
not have that length of illness in the year.[1] Who is she?"—"Gently, gently, Mr. Quilty. It is no matter to you, as yet, who she is. I won't tell you who she is. I won't mention her name to you until I know whether you are ready and resolved to marry."—"I am ready and fully resolved," said he.—"Very well," said Diarmaun, I will tell them so," and off he went. He went away west to White Thady's house. He found nobody at home but Janet. "Janet," said he, "I have made a match for you."—"May you not be rewarded for your trouble!" said she.—"I shall be rewarded," said he. "He has a firkin full of gold under the head of his bed."—"Yes, and you have a firkin full of nonsense under the foot of yours! How would he get it?"—"By bringing it from over the sea," said he.—"Oh, is it Mr. Quilty you are talking about?" said she.—"It is that same man exactly that I am talking about," said he.—"Have you spoken to him?" said she. "I have just this moment come from him," said he. "He said that he was ready and fully resolved to marry you."—There was not a day for a whole week after that, that she didn't think every moment that it was Mr. Quilty that was coming in at the door to her when she heard anybody coming. At last her patience gave way. Off she went east to Mr. Quilty's house.
Peg.—She didn't!
Abbie.—I tell you she did, and with her head in the air, looking as vain and silly as it always did. Mr. Quilly wondered what had brought her. He
- ↑ A common expression of thanks for a service quickly rendered.
