Part 90 (2/2)
”At Quiggin's Hall There's enough for all, Good beer, and all things proper.”
”Hould,boys!”
Pete had drawn up suddenly, and stopped his musicians with a sweep of the arm.
”Were you spaking, Mr. Corteen?”
”Nothing, Capt'n. No need to stare at all. I was only saying I was at the camp-meeting at Sulby, and I saw----”
”Go on, Jackie.”
”A pleasant place, With beds of aise, When we are done our supper.”
The unhappy man was deceiving himself at least as much as anybody else.
After looking for the light of intelligence in every face, waiting for a word, watching for a glance, expecting every moment that some one from south or north, or east or west, would say, ”I've seen her;” yet, covering up the burning coal of his anxiety with the ashes of mock merriment, he tried to persuade himself that Kate was not on the island if n.o.body at Tynwald had seen her; that he had told the truth unwittingly, and that he was as happy as the day was long.
XIII.
A man in a gig came driving a long-horned cow in front of him. Driver, horse, gig, and cow were like animated shapes of dust, but Pete recognised them.
”Is it yourself, Caesar? So you're for selling ould Horney?”
”Grieved in my heart I am to do it, sir. Many a good gla.s.s of milk she has given to me and mine,” and Caesar was ready to weep.
”Going falling in fits, isn't she, Caesar?”
”Hush, man! hush, man!” said Caesar, looking about. ”A good cow, very; but down twice since I left home this morning.”
”I'd give a bad sixpence to see Caesar selling that cow,” thought Pete.
Three men were bargaining over a horse. Two were selling, the third (it was Black Tom) was buying.
”Rising five years, sir. Sired by Mahomet. Oh, I've got the papers to prove it,” said one of the two.
”What, man? Five?” shouted Black Tom down the horse's open mouth.
”She'll never see eight the longest day she lives.”
”No use decaiving the man,” said the other dealer, speaking in Manx.
”She's sixteen--'low she's nine, anyway.”
”Fair play, boys; spake English before a poor fellow,” said Black Tom, with a snort.
”This brother of mine lows she's seven,” said the first of the two.
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