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eyes； gray； and somewhat unequal in size； they seldom rested on the
book； but were generally wandering about the room； from one object
to another。 Sometimes he would fix them intently on the wall； and
then suddenly starting； as if from a reverie； he would commence
making certain mysterious movements with his thumbs and
forefingers； as if he were shuffling something from him。
One morning； as he sat by himself on a bench； engaged in this
manner； I went up to him； and said； 'Good…day； Murtagh； you do not
seem to have much to do？'
'Faith； you may say that； Shorsha dear！ … it is seldom much to do
that I have。'
'And what are you doing with your hands？'
'Faith； then； if I must tell you； I was e'en dealing with the
cards。'
'Do you play much at cards？'
'Sorra a game； Shorsha； have I played with the cards since my uncle
Phelim； the thief； stole away the ould pack； when he went to settle
in the county Waterford！'
'But you have other things to do？'
'Sorra anything else has Murtagh to do that he cares about and that
makes me dread so going home at nights。'
'I should like to know all about you； where do you live； joy？'
'Faith； then； ye shall know all about me； and where I live。 It is
at a place called the Wilderness that I live； and they call it so；
because it is a fearful wild place； without any house near it but
my father's own； and that's where I live when at home。'
'And your father is a farmer； I suppose？'
'You may say that； and it is a farmer I should have been； like my
brother Denis； had not my uncle Phelim； the thief； tould my father
to send me to school； to learn Greek letters； that I might be made
a saggart of； and sent to Paris and Salamanca。'
'And you would rather be a farmer than a priest？'
'You may say that！ … for； were I a farmer； like the rest； I should
have something to do； like the rest … something that I cared for …
and I should come home tired at night； and fall asleep； as the rest
do； before the fire； but when I comes home at night I am not tired；
for I have been doing nothing all day that I care for； and then I
sits down and stares about me； and at the fire； till I become
frighted； and then I shouts to my brother Denis； or to the
gossoons； 〃Get up； I say； and let's be doing something； tell us the
tale of Finn…ma…Coul； and how he lay down in the Shannon's bed； and
let the river flow down his jaws！〃 Arrah； Shorsha！ I wish you
would come and stay with us； and tell us some o' your sweet stories
of your own self and the snake ye carried about wid ye。 Faith；
Shorsha dear！ that snake bates anything about Finn…ma…Coul or Brian
Boroo； the thieves two； bad luck to them！'
'And do they get up and tell you stories？'
'Sometimes they does； but oftenmost they curses me； and bids me be
quiet！ But I can't be quiet； either before the fire or abed； so I
runs out of the house； and stares at the rocks； at the trees； and
sometimes at the clouds； as they run a race across the bright moon；
and； the more I stares； the more frighted I grows； till I screeches
and holloas。 And last night I went into the barn； and hid my face
in the straw； and there； as I lay and shivered in the straw； I
heard a voice above my head singing out 〃To whit； to whoo！〃 and
then up I starts； and runs into the house； and falls over my
brother Denis； as he lies at the fire。 〃What's that for？〃 says he。
〃Get up； you thief！〃 says I； 〃and be helping me。 I have been out
into the barn； and an owl has crow'd at me！〃'
'And what has this to do with playing cards？'
'Little enough； Shorsha dear！ … If there were card…playing； I
should not be frighted。'
'And why do you not play at cards？'
'Did I not tell you that the thief； my uncle Phelim； stole away the
pack？ If we had the pack； my brother Denis and the gossoons would
be ready enough to get up from their sleep before the fire； and
play cards with me for ha'pence； or eggs； or nothing at all； but
the pack is gone … bad luck to the thief who took it！'
'And why don't you buy another？'
'Is it of buying you are speaking？ And where am I to get the
money？'
'Ah！ that's another thing！'
'Faith it is； honey！ … And now the Christmas holidays is coming；
when I shall be at home by day as well as night； and then what am I
to do？ Since I have been a saggarting； I have been good for
nothing at all … neither for work nor Greek … only to play cards！
Faith； it's going mad I will be！'
'I say； Murtagh！'
'Yes； Shorsha dear！'
'I have a pack of cards。'
'You don't say so； Shorsha ma vourneen？ … you don't say that you
have cards fifty…two？'
'I do； though； and they are quite new … never been once used。'
'And you'll be lending them to me； I warrant？'
'Don't think it！ … But I'll sell them to you； joy； if you like。'
'Hanam mon Dioul！ am I not after telling you that I have no money
at all！'
'But you have as good as money； to me； at least； and I'll take it
in exchange。'
'What's that； Shorsha dear？'
'Irish！'
'Irish？'
'Yes； you speak Irish； I heard you talking it the other day to the
cripple。 You shall teach me Irish。'
'And is it a language…master you'd be making of me？'
'To be sure！ … what better can you do？ … it would help you to pass
your time at school。 You can't learn Greek； so you must teach
Irish！'
Before Christmas； Murtagh was playing at cards with his brother
Denis； and I could speak a considerable quantity of broken Irish。
CHAPTER XI
Templemore … Devil's Mountain … No companion … Force of
circumstance … Way of the world … Ruined castle … Grim and desolate
… The donjon … Old woman … My own house。
WHEN Christmas was over； and the new year commenced； we broke up
our quarters； and marched away to Templemore。 This was a large
military station； situated in a wild and thinly inhabited country。
Extensive bogs were in the neighbourhood； connected with the huge
bog of Allen； the Palus Maeotis of Ireland。 Here and there was
seen a ruined castle looming through the mists of winter； whilst；
at the distance of seven miles； rose a singular mountain；
exhibiting in its brow a chasm； or vacuum； just； for all the world；
as if a piece had been bitten out； a feat which； according to the
tradition of the country； had actually been performed by his
Satanic majesty； who； after flying for some leagues with the morsel
in his mouth； becoming weary； dropped it in the vicinity of Cashel；
where it may now be seen in the shape of a bold bluff hill； crowned
with the ruins of a stately edifice； probably built by some ancient
Irish king。
We had been here only a few days； when my brother； who； as I have
before observed； had become one of his Majesty's officers； was sent
on detachment to a village at about ten miles' distance。 He was
not sixteen； and； though three years older than myself； scarcely my
equal in stature； for I had become tall and large…limbed for my
age； but there was a spirit in him which would not have disgraced a
general； and； nothing daunted at the considerable responsibility
which he was about to incur； he marched sturdily out of the
barrack…yard at the head of his party； consisting of twenty light…
infantry men； and a tall grenadier sergeant； selected expressly by
my father； for the soldier…like qualities which he possessed； to
accompany his son on this his first expedition。 So out of the
barrack…yard； with something of an air； marched my dear brother；
his single drum and fife playing the inspiring old melody；
Marlbrouk is gone to the wars；
He'll never return no more！
I soon missed my brother； for I was now alone； with no being； at
all assimilating in age； with whom I could exchange a word。 Of
late years； from being almost constantly at school； I had cast
aside； in a great degree； my unsocial habits and natural reserve；
but in the desolate region in which we now were there was no
school； and I felt doubly the loss of my brother； whom； moreover； I
tenderly loved for his own sake。 Books I had none； at least such
'as I cared about'； and with respect to the old volume； the wonders
of which had first beguiled me into common reading； I had so
frequently pored over its pages； that I had almost got its contents
by heart。 I was therefore in danger of falling into the same
predicament as Murtagh； becoming 'frighted' from having nothing to
do！ Nay； I had not even his resources； I cared not for cards； even
if I possessed them and could find people disposed to play with
them。 However； I made the most of circumstances； and roamed about
the desolate fields and bogs in the neighbourhood； sometimes
entering the cabins of the peasantry； with a 'God's blessing upon
you； good people！' where I would take my seat on the 'stranger