"
"Is yer honor expecting to meet any one here?" the man asked. "Sure,
it's a mighty lonesome sort of place."
"No, I am not expecting any one. I have only come out for a look at
the sea. I am never tired of looking at that."
"It's a big lot of water, surely," the man replied, looking over the
sea with an air of interest as if the sight were altogether novel to
him. "A powerful lot of water. And I have heard them say that you
often come out here?"
"Yes, I often come out," Ralph assented.
"Don't you think now it is dangerous so near the edge of the cliff,
yer honor? Just one step and over you would go, and it would be ten
chances to one that the next tide would drift your body away, and
divil a one know what had become of you."
"But I don't mean to take a false step," Ralph said.
"Sure, there is many a one takes a false step when he isn't dreaming
about it; and if ye didn't tumble over by yourself, just a push would
do it."
"Yes, but there is no one to give one a push," Ralph said.
"Maybe and maybe not," the man replied. "I don't say if I was a
gentleman, and could spind me time as I liked, that I would be sitting
here on the edge of these cliffs, where you might come to harm any
minute."
"I have no fear of coming to harm," Ralph answered; "and I should be
sorry for any one who tried.
Pages:
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236