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f the love she bore him； but when many far more fervid prayers had failed to add a single wheatsheaf to the harvest； he began to think that the child was trafficking with bards； or druids； or witches； and resolved to follow and watch。 he had told his thought to the abbot； who bid him e to him the moment he hit the truth； and the next day； which was a sunday； he stood in the path when the abbot and the brothers were ing from vespers； with their white habits upon them； and took the abbot by the habit and said； the beggar is of the greatest of saints and of the workers of miracle。 i followed olioll but now； and by his slow steps and his bent head i saw that the weariness of his stupidity was over him； and when he came to the little wood by the quern？house i knew by the path broken in the under？wood and by the footmarks in the muddy places that he had gone that way many times。 i hid behind a bush where the path doubled upon itself at a sloping place； and understood by the tears in his eyes that his stupidity was too old and his wisdom too new to save him from terror of the rod。 when he was in the quern？house i went to the window and looked in； and the birds came down and perched upon my head and my shoulders； for they are not timid in that holy place； and a wolf passed by； his right side shaking my habit； his left the leaves of a bush。 olioll opened his book and turned to the page i had told him to learn； and began to cry； and the beggar sat beside him and forted him until he fell asleep。 when his sleep was of the deepest the beggar knelt down and prayed aloud； and said； 〃o thou who dwellest beyond the stars； show forth thy power as at the beginning； and let knowledge sent from thee awaken in his mind； wherein is nothing from the world； that the nine orders of angels may glorify thy name〃； and then a light broke out of the air and wrapped aodh； and i smelt the breath of roses。 i stirred a little in my wonder； and the beggar turned and saw me； and； bending low； said； 〃o brother dove； if i have done wrong； forgive me； and i will do penance。 it was my pity moved me〃； but i was afraid and i ran away； and did not stop running until i came here。 then all the brothers began talking together； one saying it was such and such a saint； and one that it was not he but another； and one that it was none of these； for they were still in their brotherhoods； but that it was such and such a one； and the talk was as near to quarreling as might be in that gentle munity； for each would claim so great a saint for his native province。 at last the abbot said； he is none that you have named； for at easter i had greeting from all； and each was in his brotherhood； but he is aengus the lover of god； and the first of those who have gone to live in the wild places and among the wild beasts。 ten years ago he felt the burden of many labours in a brotherhood under the hill of patrick and went into the forest that he might labour only with song to the lord； but the fame of his holiness brought many thousands to his cell； so that a little pride clung to a soul from which all else had been driven。 nine years ago he dressed himself in rags； and from that day none has seen him； unless； indeed； it be true that he has been seen living among the wolves on the mountains and eating the grass of the fields。 let us go to him and bow down before him； for at last； after long seeking； he has found the nothing that is god； and bid him lead us in the pathway he has trodden。
they passed in their white habits along the beaten path in the wood； the acolytes swinging their censers before them； and the abbot； with his crozier studded with precious stones； in the midst of the incense； and came before the quern？house and knelt down and began to pray； awaiting the moment when the child would wake； and the saint cease from his watch and e to look at the sun going down into the unknown darkness； as his way was。
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OF COSTELLO THE PROUD； OF OONA THE DAUGHTER OF DER
小说
of costello the proud； of oona the daughter of dermott； and of the bitter tongue
costello had e up from the fields and lay upon the ground before the door of his square tower； resting his head upon his hands and looking at the sunset； and considering the chances of the weather。 though the customs of elizabeth and james； now going out of fashion in england； had begun to prevail among the gentry； he still wore the great cloak of the native irish； and the sensitive outlines of his face and the greatness of his indolent body had a mingling of pride and strength which belonged to a simpler age。 his eyes wandered from the sunset to where the long white road lost itself over the south？western horizon and to a horseman who toiled slowly up the hill。 a few more minutes and the horseman was near enough for his little and shapeless body； his long irish cloak； and the dilapidated bagpipes hanging from his shoulders； and the rough？haired garron under him； to be seen distinctly in the grey dusk。 so soon as he had e within earshot； he began crying： is it sleeping you are； tumaus costello； when better men break their hearts on the great white roads？
get up out of that； proud tumaus； for i have news！ get up out of that； you great omadhaun！ shake yourself out of the earth； you great weed of a man！
costello had risen to his feet； and as the piper came up to him seized him by the neck of his jacket； and lifting him out of his saddle threw him on to the ground。
let me alone； let me alone； said the other； but costello still shook him。
i have news from dermotts daughter； winny； the great fingers were loosened； and the piper rose gasping。
why did you not tell me； said costello； that you came from her？ you might have railed your fill。
i have e from her； but i will not speak unless i am paid for my shaking。
costello fumbled at the bag in which he carried his money； and it was some time before it would open； for the hand that had overe many men shook with fear and hope。 here is all the money in my bag； he said； dropping a stream of french and spanish money into the hand of the piper； who bit the coins before he would answer。
that is right； that is a fair price； but i will not speak till i have good protection； for if the dermotts lay their hands upon me in any boreen after sundown； or in cool？a？vin by day； i will be left to rot among the nettles of a ditch； or hung on the great sycamore； where they hung the horse？thieves last beltaine four years。 and while he spoke he tied the reins of his garron to a bar of rusty iron that was mortared into the wall。
i will make you my piper and my bodyservant； said costello； and no man dare lay hands upon the man； or the goat； or the horse； or the dog that is tumaus costellos。
and i will only tell my message； said the other； flinging the saddle on the ground； in the corner of the chimney with a noggin in my hand； and a jug of the brew of the little pot beside me； for though i am ragged and empty； my forbears were well clothed and full until their house was burnt and their cattle harried seven centuries ago by the dillons； whom i shall yet see on the hob of hell； and they screeching； and while he spoke the little eyes gleamed and the thin hands clenched。
costello led him into the great rush？strewn hall； where were none of the forts which had begun to grow mon among the gentry； but a feudal gauntness and bareness； and pointed to the bench in the great chimney； and when he had sat down； filled up a horn noggin and set it on the bench beside him； and set a great black jack of leather beside the noggin； and lit a torch that slanted out from a ring in the wall； his hands trembling the while； and then turned towards him and said： will dermotts daughter e to me； duallach； son of daly？
dermotts daughter will not e to you； for her father has set women to watch her； but she bid me tell you that this day sennight will be the eve of st。 john and the night of her betrothal to namara of the lake； and she would have you there that； when they bid her drink to him she loves best； as the way is； she may drink to you； tumaus costello； and let all know where her heart is； and how little of gladness is in her marriage； and i myself bid you go with good men about you； for i saw the horse？th