CHAPTER IX
MATCHMAKING
Shiana did not return home that day, and he did not return that night.
Michael stayed to take care of the place. He was very much surprised when he found that Shiana did not come. He spent the night in the soogaun chair. From time to time he thought Shiana was coming in at the door. Three times he jumped up and went to the door. He thought he heard a man's footstep each time, and he could have sworn that it was Shiana. The last time he thought he saw Shiana himself coming to the door, and he moved his lips to speak to him, but when he looked more carefully there was nobody there. He did not go to the door again. He stayed in the chair near the fire. He put down a sod of turf now and again. He was there ever so long. He thought it impossible for any night to be so long. He felt a dismal loneliness and a quaking fear and dread, yet that did not prevent him from having a nod of sleep from time to time. Once a heavier nod than usual fell upon him, and he saw the house full of little black people all round him, all of them coming at him with hostile intent, with one little gentleman among them who was protecting him from them. One of them slipped in behind the gentleman and made a drive at Michael, showing his teeth. Michael started out of his sleep. Every drop of sweat upon him was as big as a whortleberry, and he was trembling all over.
