[Valentine M’Clutchy, The Irish Agent by William Carleton]@TWC D-Link bookValentine M’Clutchy, The Irish Agent CHAPTER IV 3/15
Darby could observe, however, that she appeared to be deeply troubled by the idiot's conduct, as was evident by the trembling of her hands, and a perturbation of manner which she could not conceal. "Raymond," she said, soothingly, "won't you be good for me, darlin'-- for your own mother, my poor helpless boy? Won't you be good for me ?" "I will," said he, in a more placid voice. "And you will not curse anybody any more ?" "No, mother, no." "And won't you bless Mr.M'Clutchy, my dear child ?" "There's a fig for him," he replied--there's a fig for him.
Now!" "But you didn't bless him, my darlin'-- you didn't bless him yet." As she spoke the words, her eye caught! his, and she perceived that it began to gleam and kindle. "Well no," said she hastily; "no, I won't ask you; only hould your tongue--say no more." She again patted his cheek tenderly, and the fiery light which began to burn in his eye, died gradually away, and no other expression remained in it but the habitual one of innocence and good-nature. "No, no," said she, shaking her head, and speaking as much to herself as to Darby; "I know him too well; no earthly power will put him out of his own way, once he takes it into his head.
This minute, if I had spoke another word about the blessin', Mr.M'Clutchy would a got another curse; yet, except in these fits, my poor child is kindness and tendheress itself." "Well now," said Darby, "that that's over, can you tell me, Poll, what's the news? When were you in Dublin ?" "I've given that up," replied Poll; "I'm too ould and stiff for it now. As for the news, you ought to know what's goin' as well as I do.
You're nearly as much on the foot." "No; nor if every head in the parish was 'ithin side o'mine, I wouldn't know as much in the news line as you, Poll." "The news that's goin' of late, Darby, is not good, an' you know it. There's great grumlin' an' great complaints, ever since.
Val, the lad, became undher agent; and you know that too." "But how can I prevent that ?" said Darby; "sure I'd side wid the people if I could." "You'd side wid the people, an' you'd side wid the man that oppresses them, even in spite of Mr.Hickman." "God bless Mr.Hickman!" said Raymond, "and the divil curse him! and sure 'tis well known that the divil's curse is only another name for God's blessin'.
<<Back Index Next>> D-Link book Top TWC mobile books
|