In a way he
had tricked her into singing for him a love-song she did not want to
sing. But she made no protest. Swiftly she turned and slid along the
bench. Her fingers touched the keys and she began.
He watched the beauty and warmth of her dainty youth with eyes that
mirrored the hunger of his heart. How buoyantly she carried her dusky
little head! With what a gallant spirit she did all things! He was
usually a frank pagan, but when he was with her it seemed to him that
God spoke through her personality all sorts of brave, fine promises.
Sheba paid her pledge in full. After the first two stanzas were finished
she sang the last ones as well:--
"An' what about the wather when I'd have ould Paddy's boat,
Is it me that would be feared to grip the oars an' go afloat?
Oh, I could find him by the light of sun or moon or star:
But there's caulder things than salt waves between us, so they are.
Och anee!
"Sure well I know he'll never have the heart to come to me,
An' love is wild as any wave that wanders on the sea,
'Tis the same if he is near me, 'tis the same if he is far:
His thoughts are hard an' ever hard between us, so they are.
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