“No, Dermod, for it’s yerself that has the kindly way,” said the poor girl. “Would ye do something for me if ever ye go back to yer own place?”
“Anything you ask,” Dermod answered, “and anything within my power to do.”
“Will ye hev a mass said for me in the chapel at home; a mass for the repose of me soul?” she asked. “If ye do I’ll be very happy.”
These were Norah Ryan’s last words. As she spoke she looked at Gourock Ellen, and by a sign expressed a wish to speak to her. She sat up in bed, but, as she opened her mouth, shivered as if with cold, looked at Ellen with sad, blank eyes and dropped back on the pillow. Dermod and Ellen stooped forward, not knowing what to do, but feeling that they should do something. The girl was still looking upwards at the shadows on the ceiling, but seeing far beyond. Then her eyes closed slowly, like those of a child that falls into a peaceful sleep.
Norah Ryan was dead.
THE END
FOOTNOTES:
[A] Girsha, girl.
[B] Beanshee, a fairy woman. (Bean, a woman; shee, a fairy.)
[C] Beansho, “That woman.” (A term of reproach.)