Jimmy lay senseless, and he looked like
death. Dannie rushed down to the water with the hat, and splashed
drops into Jimmy's face until he gasped for breath. When he
recovered a little, he shrank from Dannie, and began to sob, as if
he were a sick ten-year-old child.
"I knew you'd go back on me, Dannie," he wavered. "I've lost the
only frind I've got, and I wish I was dead."
"I havena gone back on ye," persisted Dannie, bathing Jimmy's
face. "Life means nothing to me, save as I can use it fra Mary, and
fra ye. Be quiet, and sit up here, and help me work this thing out.
Why are ye a discontented mon, always wishing fra any place save
home? Why do ye spend all ye earn foolishly, so that ye are always
hard up, when ye might have affluence? Why does Mary lose her
children, and why does she noo wish she had na married ye?"
"Who said she wished she hadn't married me?" cried Jimmy.
"Do ye mean to say ye think she doesn't?" blazed Dannie.
"I ain't said anything!" exclaimed Jimmy.
"Na, and I seem to have damn poor luck gettin' ye ~to say anything.
I dinna ask fra tears, nor faintin' like a woman. Be a mon, and let
me into the secret of this muddle. There is a secret, and ye know
it. What is it? Why are ye breaking the heart o' Mary Malone?
Answer me, or 'fore God I'll wring the answer fra your body!"
And Jimmy keeled over again. This time he was gone so far that
Dannie was frightened into a panic, and called the doctor coming up
the lane to Jimmy before he had time to see Mary.
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