Something had died in Christina at these words.
To give up Jim! I won’t say it was like parting with a bit of herself; for Christina had no such great liking for her own four bones, that that would have troubled her much. And did anything trouble her now? She felt all ice, as if she had no feeling left.
And what was she to do! What was she to do!
It seemed half her life, before they met Heffernan, coming puffing and limping up the field. He hadn’t a word more out of him about the business he had in hand, and seemed really vexed at the way Nelly had run off from him.
“Cassidy? Jim Cassidy?” he said, when they went to explain the thing to him; “why, what at all! there wasn’t a living soul in the meadow nor isn’t now, only our three selves! Is it wanting to make me out a fool, altogether, yous are? Maybe that’s not so easy done!”
He stopped at that, with his mouth open, as if he was surprised at himself that he had said so much. He looked from one to another of the two girls, as much as to say, “What excuses have yous to make to me?” for he was quite offended. And when no one said anything, he just turned off short, when they reached the gate leading out of the meadow, and went home, as crabbed as you like.
But by that time Christina was past caring a pinch of snuff what he did. She could think of nothing, only Jim. She thought she’d never get back to the house quick enough, she was so full sure he would be there waiting for them.
Leaning out over the half-door, she pictured him to herself, the way he often was, before he went to America, laughing and kind. Her face was white, and the two eyes burning, burning in it, as she went hurrying on, across the yard, and into the house.
As for Nelly, she was all smiles and gaiety. Little she cared for Heffernan, or what humour he was in, and he going off from that! She was calling out, “Jim! Jim! where at all are you? what do you mean...?” as she ran here and there looking for him, rosy and warm again in the cheeks, as if they were playing a game of hide-and-seek.
But the sorra Jim could they find! High, low, or holy, there wasn’t a sight of him to be seen; though Nelly hunted and searched and looked and called, all over the place; while Christina, white and hot-eyed, went about her usual work.