“I like the bow in your hair,” he said in a hoarse voice that startled the girl. “It suits you.”
“I must be off and away now,” she said, freeing her hand from his, but not drawing it away quickly enough to prevent him getting possession of it again. “Let me go,” she said in a low voice. “Ye must let me go. What would yerself be talkin’ to the likes of me for? There’s the farm!”
“Don’t hurry away,” said Morrison, bending down and placing both arms round her waist. For some reason which he could not fathom he felt ashamed of himself, but he clasped her more tightly as he spoke. “Why are you in so great a hurry? You’re better here. Is that young fellow—Flynn they call him, I think—waiting for you? Micky’s Jim was telling me all.”
“He had no right to,” said the girl angrily, but refrained from drawing herself away. “Dermod Flynn is nothin’ to me.”
“I’m glad of that.”
“Why?”
Morrison did not answer. It would be unwise to commit himself in any way, he thought, and for a moment he mastered the passion which filled his body. The lights of the farm sparkled in front. The open shed was facing them. The fire glowed red inside, and against it dark forms came and went. He stooped down and kissed her three times and she could feel his warm body press passionately against her own.
Someone passed near them and Morrison let her go. She hurried off towards the shed, and he could hear the patter of her boots as she ran. She passed Dermod Flynn on her way; no doubt he had seen Morrison kiss her, she thought. When she entered the shed Gourock Ellen, who was bending over the card table, looked up and saw the flush of colour in Norah’s face. Then Ellen noticed Dermod coming in and saw the troubled look in the boy’s eyes.
“Dermod’s been kissin’ ye, lass, I’ll warrant,” she whispered to Norah, then turning round to Micky’s Jim, she opened his shirt front and ran her fingers down his hairy chest. “Come on now, Jim, for that’ll gie ye luck,” she cried.
“Yes, decent woman, it’s sure to give me luck,” said Jim, throwing down the cards and putting a match to his pipe.