SHIANA
95
Peg.—How do you or I know that he didn't take some vow or obligation of that sort upon himself before he went to speak to her that day?
Nora.—That was how Mary understood the thing, at all events.
Peg.—You are quite right, Nora.
She was talking to Michael's mother a couple of days afterwards, and this is how she spoke to her:—
"Hannah," said she, "isn't it a great wonder that Shiana didn't tell you the other day that he was a Céile Dé,[1] and not let us be under a false impression, as he did?"
Sheila.—What is a Céile Dé, Peg? Surely nobody could be a spouse to God,—praise and thanks be to Him!
Kate.—Oh, indeed, Peg, I heard my grandfather say that there used to be people long ago who wouldn't marry any woman, because they used to be married to the God of Glory Himself; and that was the name he called them, Céile Dé.
Sheila.—Why, how could they be married like that? Sure that isn't a marriage.
Kate.—If they were not married how could they be called Céile? Isn't Céile a married man or a married woman? Isn't it, Peg?
Peg.—It is, of course.
Sheila.—But then, Peg, how could a man be married to God? Why, a man couldn't be married except to a woman. Did anybody ever hear the like!
Abbie.—Oh, Sheila, how sharp you are! Who told
