A bairnie couped it, coming home from school, Among the sheaves. BIRCH [_Whispering._] Hush! hush! Softly, softly, my daughters; I hear the sound of mountain waters. BURN [_Singing._] Bubble! Bubble! Bubble! Hush! Let me down. Bubble! Bubble! Bubble! What a lot of trouble There is in the world Before you can get down To bed-rock, And stand stock Still As reserved, as reserved, as reserved as can be, Not letting slip A word over your lip. Oh! I say! Hurry! Hurry! I must get to the sea! Bubble! Bubble! Bubble! Hush! Let me down Without any more trouble, Bubble! Bubble! Bubble! Bubble! [_All remain listening, wrapt in wonder. Even Finn, who since the spell has been laid upon him has been sitting in great heaviness of mind, looks up and listens to the song with growing delight. Suddenly Angus roars with laughter._] MACTALLA [_Mocking._] Ha! Ha! Ha! Big Angus! Bow-wow! I said I’d have the big laugh out of you the now. ANGUS [_Unable to stop laughing._] Did ever anybody hear the like of that? [_The others look at him half-angrily._] CONAN What’s taken the fool! CONDHLA Pat him on the back. TORQUIL Can’t you hold your tongue. GONACHRY Did you ever hear of anyone that could! ANGUS [_In desperation._] Hold my tongue! Will that do any good? [_He tries to do so. It makes him laugh all the more, and one by one they all gradually join in his laughter except Finn, till they are roaring fit to split the rocks. Above it all Mactalla is heard mocking. At last Angus subsides, wiping the tears from his eyes._] CONAN What on earth are you laughing at? ANGUS Nothing on earth. What are you laughing at? CONAN How should I know? ANGUS Well, how should I know what I’m laughing at? CONAN Because you began, you gomeril. ANGUS Not I. GONACHRY Well, then, who did? ANGUS Mactalla. CONAN What was Mactalla laughing at? ANGUS That’s what I’d like to know.