“Wasn’t that man a great fool?” said Ardan solemnly.
“No,” laughed Naoise, “it was just that he thought he had time to do it. I saw that combat. It must have been that a wasp or hornet slid into his leg band. He gave a jump and a quick bend to get at his leg, but the other man jumped after him; then he gave another great jump and another bend, and he got a little trip at the same time—that is how the other champion slashed him; but everybody was laughing so much that his life was spared, so he kept his head if he lost his tail.”
“Ho, ho, ho!” roared Ardan.
And it was his laughter that made Deirdre part with a squeal of glee which so astonished her that she leaped to her feet and fled among the trees, and so home.
She had not spoken to the boys beyond the word of blessing and greeting which could not be omitted. Ardan and Ainnle considered that it was quite right a girl should be silent in the presence of champions, but Naoise thought it was a pity she did not speak, for he was inclined to fancy that her voice would be pleasant to listen to.
[7] Naoise = pron. neesh-eh.
[8] Cúchulinn = pron. Ku-hullin.
CHAPTER XI
If it rested only with the boys the girls might go unmarried, for boys have urgent interests and have little of the leisure for dream which girls enjoy.
They feel, moreover, at a loss in that art wherein a girl seems instinctively wise; for as a young bee will undertake untaught the curious angles and subtle perfections of his home, so a girl will adventure herself in love without misgiving and without teaching.