Pat—“handsome Pat” as he was called—was about seven-and-twenty, and certainly as good-looking a fellow as could be met with in a day’s walk—and not indifferent to the fact. His was the real type of Celtic face—dark blue eyes, dark hair and brows, well-shaped, somewhat refined features, white teeth, and eyelashes so long and so effective, that to a London débutante they might have proved an asset of extraordinary value.
Pat was capable and active when he chose, but innately lazy and self-indulgent. He liked dancing, he liked horses, and porter, and singing, and girls. The girls liked him—indeed so did many people, for when Pat was in the humour, his manner was irresistible. His mother and eldest sister kept the farm, where at present he was out of favour, and had taken on a job at the hotel. His mother adored her handsome Pat—so clever, so well schooled, and so smart! His shirts were invariably white as snow, his clothes well mended. Once he had taken it into his head to go to America, where he remained one year, and then returned, because, as he said, “His mother was dying after him”; also because (though this he did not divulge) the country did not suit him. It was true that good money was to be earned, but the work was hard and continuous, and the price of everything was so high, that it swallowed up the dollars. It suited him better to have smaller earnings and easier labour; to live at home, and be a comfort to his mother. Pat and his sister, an industrious, strong-willed, hot-tempered woman, did not always agree. Now and then a domestic storm arose. Occasionally Lizzie’s tongue drove Pat abroad, and he went off and took service. He enjoyed the bit of change for one thing, and for another, he was pleasantly alive to the fact that, during his absence, his mother was leading Lizzie a devil of a life, and paying off his score with interest.
Having arrived safely at the “Glenveigh Arms,” Miss Usher descended in a gingerly manner from the car, and walked straight into the hall in search of letters.
Here was Pat’s opportunity, and leaning over to Mary, he thus addressed her in a low voice.
“Am I never to have a word with you again, asthore, and you going off for ever and ever, and taking the heart out of my body along with you?”
“I’m not going yet—no, nor soon. But sure, what’s the good of talking nonsense about yer heart? To me own knowledge, you’ve given it away twenty times.”
“It will be a relief to me to spake, anyhow. Are ye going up to the corner again?”
“Of course I am—to see my aunt Bridgie and the place, and to fetch away the cat.”
“I’ll bring him down to-night for you. You have only to say the word.”
“Well, then, maybe you might as well, Pat; and you must mind and butter his feet, and put him in one of the old egg-baskets. I’m taking him to England.”