The Emigrants Of Ahadarra: The Works of William Carleton, Volume TwoCarleton, William
General
The Emigrants Of Ahadarra: The Works of William Carleton, Volume Two
Carleton, William
Ireland -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
“By all that deserves an oath,” exclaimed Hycy, looking bitterly after
him, “if I should live to the day of judgment I'll never forgive you
your insulting conduct this day--and that I'll soon make you feel to
your cost!”
This misunderstanding between the two friends caused Hycy to feel much
mortification and disappointment. After leaving M'Mahon, he went through
the market evidently with some particular purpose in view, if one could
judge from his manner. He first proceeded to the turf-market, and looked
with searching eye among those who stood waiting to dispose of their
loads. From this locality he turned his steps successively to other
parts of the town, still looking keenly about him as he went along. At
length he seemed disappointed or indifferent, it was difficult to say
which, and stood coiling the lash of his whip in the dust, sometimes
quite unconsciously, and sometimes as if a wager depended on the success
with which he did it--when, on looking down the street, he observed a
little broad, squat man, with a fiery red head, a face almost scaly with
freckles, wide projecting cheek-bones, and a nose so thoroughly of the
saddle species, that a rule laid across the base of it, immediately
between the eyes, would lie close to the whole front of his face. In
addition to these personal accomplishments, he had a pair of strong bow
legs, terminating in two broad, flat feet, in complete keeping with
his whole figure, which, though not remarkable for symmetry, was
nevertheless indicative of great and extraordinary strength. He wore
neither stockings nor cravat of any kind, but had a pair of strong
clouted brogues upon his feet; thus disclosing to the spectator two legs
and a breast that were covered over with a fell of red close hair that
might have been long and strong enough for a badger. He carried in his
hand a short whip, resembling a carrot in shape, and evidently of such
a description as no man that had any regard for his health would wish to
come in contact with, especially from the hand of such a double-jointed
but misshapen Hercules as bore it.
“Ted, how goes it, my man?”
“_Ghe dhe shin dirthu, a dinaousal?_” replied Ted, surveying him with a
stare.
“D--n you!” was about to proceed from Hycy's lips when he perceived
that a very active magistrate, named Jennings, stood within hearing. The
latter passed on, however, and Hycy proceeded:--“I was about to abuse
you, Ted, for coming out with your Irish to me,” he said, “until I saw
Jennings, and then I _had_ you.”
“Throgs, din, Meeisther Hycy, I don't like the _Bairlha_ (* English
tongue)--'caise I can't sphake her properly, at all, at all. Come you
'out wid the Gailick fwhor me, i' you plaise, Meeisther Hycy.”
“D--n your Gaelic!” replied Hycy--“no, I won't--I don't speak it.”
“The Laud forget you for that!” replied Ted, with a grin; “my ould
grandmudher might larn it from you--hach, ach, ha!”
“None of your d--d impertinence, Ted. I want to speak to you.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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