"I'm listening to you," said Mary.
"What have we got to do with these lads behind us?" said Patsy urgently. "They are nothing to us at all, and I'm tired of them."
"There's a thing to say!" quoth she.
"This is what we'll do. To-night we won't unyoke the ass, and when they are well asleep we'll walk quietly off with ourselves and leave them there. Eileen Ni Cooley will come with us and in the morning we'll be distant."
"I won't do that," said Mary.
He darted at her a sparkle of rage.
"You'll do what I say, you strap, or it'll be the worse for you!" said his violent whisper.
"I won't do that," she hissed, "and I tell you I won't."
"By the living Jingo...!" said Patsy.
She came at him whispering with equal fierceness.