He'll be one bird that won't be migrating this winter."
Dannie tried to laugh. "I'd like fall as much as any season of the
year," he said, "if it wasna for winter coming next."
"I thought you liked winter, and the trampin' in the white woods,
and trappin', and the long evenings with a book."
"I do," said Dannie. "I must have been thinkin' of Mary. She hated
last winter so. Of course, I had to go home when ye were away, and
the nichts were so long, and so cold, and mony of them alone. I
wonder if we canna arrange fra one of her sister's girls to stay
with her this winter?"
"What's the matter with me?" asked Jimmy.
"Nothing, if only ye'd stay," answered Dannie.
"All I'll be out of nights, you could put in one eye," said Jimmy.
"I went last winter, and before, because whin they clamored too
loud, I could be drivin' out the divils that way, for a while, and
you always came for me, but even that won't be stopping it now. I
wouldn't stick my head out alone after dark, not if I was dying!"
"Jimmy, ye never felt that way before," said Dannie. "Tell me
what happened this summer to start ye."
"I've done a domn sight of faleing that you didn't know anything
about," answered Jimmy. "I could work it off at Casey's for a
while, but this summer things sort of came to a head, and I saw
meself for fair, and before God, Dannie, I didn't like me looks."
"Well, then, I like your looks," said Dannie. "Ye are the best
company I ever was in. Ye are the only mon I ever knew that I cared
fra, and I care fra ye so much, I havna the way to tell ye how
much.
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