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and then the cup rolled over and over on the ground； ringing like a bell； for the old man had struck her in the face and the cup had fallen； and there was a deep silence。
there were many of namaras people among the servants now e out of the alcove； and one of them； a story？teller and poet； a last remnant of the bardic order； who had a chair and a platter in namaras kitchen； drew a french knife out of his girdle and made as though he would strike at costello； but in a moment a blow had hurled him to the ground； his shoulder sending the cup rolling and ringing again。 the click of steel had followed quickly； had not there e a muttering and shouting from the peasants about the door and from those crowding up behind them； and all knew that these were no children of queens irish or friendly namaras and dermotts； but of the wild irish about lough gara and lough cara； who rowed their skin coracles； and had masses of hair over their eyes； and left the right arms of their children unchristened that they might give the stouter blows； and swore only by st。 atty and sun and moon； and worshipped beauty and strength more than st。 atty or sun and moon。
costellos hand had rested upon the handle of his sword and his knuckles had grown white； but now he drew it away； and； followed by those who were with him； strode towards the door； the dancers giving way before him； the most angrily and slowly； and with glances at the muttering and shouting peasants； but some gladly and quickly； because the glory of his fame was over him。 he passed through the fierce and friendly peasant faces； and came where his good horse and the rough？ haired garrons were tied to bushes； and mounted and bade his ungainly bodyguard mount also and ride into the narrow boreen。 when they had gone a little way； duallach； who rode last； turned towards the house where a little group of dermotts and namaras stood next to a more numerous group of countrymen； and cried： dermott； you deserve to be as you are this hour； a lantern without a candle； a purse without a penny； a sheep without wool； for your hand was ever niggardly to piper and fiddler and story？teller and to poor travelling people。 he had not done before the three old dermotts from the ox mountains had run towards their horses； and old dermott himself had caught the bridle of a garron of the namaras and was calling to the others to follow him； and many blows and many deaths had been had not the countrymen caught up still glowing sticks from the ashes of the fires and hurled them among the horses with loud cries； making all plunge and rear； and some break from those who held them； the whites of their eyes gleaming in the dawn。
for the next few weeks costello had no lack of news of oona； for now a woman selling eggs or fowls； and now a man or a woman on pilgrimage to the well of the rocks； would tell him how his love had fallen ill the day after st。 johns eve； and how she was a little better or a little worse； as it might be； and though he looked to his horses and his cows and goats as usual； the mon and unely； the dust upon the roads； the songs of men returning from fairs and wakes； men playing cards in the corners of fields on sundays and saints
days； the rumours of battles and changes in the great world； the deliberate purposes of those about him； troubled him with an inexplicable trouble； and the country people still remember how when night had fallen he would bid duallach of the pipes tell； to the chirping of the crickets； the son of apple； the beauty of the world； the king of irelands son； or some other of those traditional tales which were as much a pipers business as the green bunch of rushes； the unchion stream； or the chiefs of breffeny； and while the boundless and phantasmal world of the legends was a？building； would abandon himself to the dreams of his sorrow。
duallach would often pause to tell how some clan of the wild irish had descended from an inparable king of the blue belt； or warrior of the ozier wattle； or to tell with many curses how all the strangers and most of the queens irish were the seed of the misshapen and horned people from under the sea or of the servile and creeping ferbolg； but costello cared only for the love sorrows； and no matter whither the stories wandered； whether to the isle of the red lough； where the blessed are； or to the malign country of the hag of the east； oona alone endured their shadowy hardships； for it was she and no kings daughter of old who was hidden in the steel tower under the water with the folds of the worm of nine eyes round and about her prison； and it was she who won by seven years of service the right to deliver from hell all she could carry； and carried away multitudes clinging with worn fingers to the hem of her dress； and it was she who endured dumbness for a year because of the little thorn of enchantment the fairies had thrust into her tongue； and it was a lock of her hair； coiled in a little carved box； which gave so great a light that men threshed by it from sundown to sunrise； and awoke so great a wonder that kings spent years in wandering or fell before unknown armies in seeking to discover her hiding？place； for there was no beauty in the world but hers； no tragedy in the world but hers： and when at last the voice of the piper； grown gentle with the wisdom of old romance； was silent； and his rheumatic steps had toiled upstairs and to bed； and costello had dipped his fingers into the little delf font of holy water and begun to pray to mary of the seven sorrows； the blue eyes and star？covered dress of the painting in the chapel faded from his imagination； and the brown eyes and homespun dress of dermotts daughter winny came in their stead； for there was no tenderness in the passion who keep their hearts pure for love or for hatred as other men for god； for mary and for the saints； and who； when the hour of their visitation arrives； e to the divine essence by the bitter tumult； the garden of gethsemane； and the desolate rood ordained for immortal passions in mortal hearts。
one day a serving？man rode up to costello； who was helping his two lads to reap a meadow； and gave him a letter； and rode away without a word； and the letter contained t