Kenach’s Little Woman = 75

“Indeed, then, we have travelled far,”
replied the woman ; “as thou sayest, out
of the great world beyond. And now the
twilight deepens upon us.”

“Thou shalt sleep safe in the cave, O
daughter, but we will rest here by the em-
bers. My cloak of goat’s hair shalt thou
have, and such dry bracken and soft bushes
as may be found.”

“There is no need,’ said the woman,
“mere shelter is enough;” and she added
in a low voice, “Often has my little son had
no bed wherein he might lie.”

Then she stretched out her arms to the
boy, and once more the little one kissed the
Abbot, and as he passed by Diarmait he put
the palms of his hands against the face of
the young monk, and said laughingly, Sol
do not think thou hadst any ill-will to us,
though thou wert rough and didst threaten
to drive us away into the woods.”

And the woman lifted the boy on her
arm, and rose and went towards the cavern ;
and when she was in the shadow of the rocks
she turned towards the monks beside the
fire, and said, “ My son bids me thank you.”

They looked up, and what was their aston-