Duinnín agus an Cat
Féirín . . . a reward, a present, a keepsake . . . in a bad sense, a lasting complaint, an affliction ; f. Nodlag, a Christmas box.
Deireadh an scéil
End of the story
Oíche Lae Nollag atá ann. Tá an tAthair Pádraig Ó Duinnín ar an traein dheireanach ó Shráid Amiens ar a shlí abhaile go dtí an bungaló beag cois farraige i bPort Mearnóg mar a bhfuil cónaí air. Tá a hata ard dubh síoda leagtha béal in airde ar a ghlúine mar a mbíonn lámhscríbhinn éigin de ghnáth. Tá sé ag cáitheadh sneachta. Ó am go chéile ardaíonn an Duinníneach an nuachtán atá leagtha ar an hata aige agus féachann sé arís ar an bpiscín cait atá ina chodladh istigh. Agus é ag druidim le stáisiún Phort Mearnóg, crochann sé an ruidín beag dubh san aer le súil go mbeadh cat ó dhuine éigin. Ní fhéachann ceachtar den bheirt eile sa charráiste air féin ná ar an bpiscín. Ligeann sé osna agus cuireann sé síos ina phóca é. Póca doimhin é a shíneann go bun a chóta – maintín, a bhfuil sé cairdiúil léi, a réitigh an póca seo, in aisce, dó – le gur féidir leis rudaí ilghnéitheacha a iompar thart go discréideach. Sháigh an piscín ingne ina láimh agus é á stiúrú isteach go cneasta. ‘Féirín!’ arsa an Duinníneach go grod.
It is Christmas Eve. Pádraig Ó Duinnín on the last train from Amiens Street on his way home to the small seaside bungalow in Portmarnock where he lives. His tall black silk hat is set mouth-high on his knees where some manuscript is usually. It is snowing [lit. “throwing snow”]. Occasionally Dineen raises the newspaper set on his hat and he looks again at the kitten who is sleeping inside. Approaching Portmarnock station, he lifts the little black thing in the air with the hope it be someone’s cat. Neither of the other two in the carriage looks at him or the kitten. He lets out a sigh and puts it down in his pocket. It is a deep pocket that stretches to the bottom of his coat, – a seamstress, with whom he is a friend, made this pocket, for nothing, for him – so that he can carry various things around discreetly. The kitten pushed a claw into his hand while while he was politely steering it in. ‘Gift!’ Said Dineen abruptly.
| síoda | silk | mgs síoda |
| leagtha | laid | |
| béal | mouth | m |
| de ghnáth | as a rule | |
| lámhscríbhinn | manuscript | f |
| féach | look | v |
| piscín | kitten | m |
| druid | close, shut; Move close to, draw near, approach [with le | |
| croch | hang; raise up; lift, carry | v |
| ceachtar | either, neither [with neg.]||
| osna a ligean | sigh | v |
| doimhin = domhain | deep | |
| sín | stretch | v |
| maintín | seamstress | |
| aisce | Request, favour; gift, present. | f |
| in aisce | for nothing, gratis | |
| ilghnéitheacha | Diverse, various, heterogeneous | |
| discréideach | discreet | |
| Sáigh | Thrust; stab; push, press; dart, lunge | |
| ionga | claw; finger | f pl ingne |
| stiúrú | steering, directing, guiding | |
| cneasta | Honest, sincere; Decent, seemly; Mild-mannered | |
| grod | Short, sudden; prompt, abrupt |
Tus an scéil
Beginning of the story
Chuaigh an tAthair Ó Duinnín isteach sa chathair ar thraein an mheán lae, Lá Nollag, chun dinnéar mór na féile a chaitheamh le Miss Cruikshank (Eleanor ab ainm di), a deirfiúr Penny, Hetty agus Belinda Brown, agus Maria Godley.
Father Dineen went into the city on the noon train, Christmas day, to spend a big holiday dinner with Miss Cruikshank (Eleanor 1s her nane), her sister Penny, Hetty and Belinda Brown, and Maria Godley
Bíonn ar dhuine dul in áit éigin um Nollaig nó dul ar a theitheadh. Tigh Cruikshank, bhíodh an bia go maith. Ba bhealach é chun na ladies a chúiteamh as na stocaí agus veisteanna olna a chniotálaidís dó i rith na bliana, fear a bheith chun béile leo Lá Nollag. Tháinig ceathrar den chúigear amach sa halla ag fáiltiú roimhe, Eleanor Cruikshank go maorga Protastúnach, a deirfiúr Penny umhal, dearg-ghnúiseach ón gcistin, an bheirt Miss Brown chomh haerach le cailíní scoile. Phóg sé ceithre leiceann.
One has to go somewhere for Christmas or run away. House Cruikshank, the food would be good. It was a way for him to repay the ladies for the socks and woolen vests which they knitted for him during the year, being a man to have dinner with them on Christmas day. Four of the five came out in the hall to welcome him, Eleanor Cruikshank majestically Protestant, her sister Penny humble, red-faced from the kitchen, the two Miss Browns airily/gayly like school girls. He kissed four cheeks.
teith Run away, flee, retreat; shun, avoid v olann wool var gs olna cniotáil knit cúitigh Requite; repay, compensate maorga Stately, dignified, imposing; Sedate, quiet Protastúnach Protestant m umhal humble gnúiseach Well-favored, good-looking aerach airy
‘Tar leat isteach sa seomra suí, a Athair, go bhfeicfidh tú an crann Nollag,’ arsa Eleanor á threorú. ‘ ’Bhfuil sé ag cur sneachta i gcónaí?’
‘Níl, buíochas le Dia.’
‘Tá na féiríní faoin gcrann,’ arsa Belinda leis i gcogar. ‘Tomhais cad a rinne mé duit i mbliana.’
‘Ní bheadh aon tuairim agam,’ ar seisean, ‘murar dhein tú císte dom?’
‘Chniotálas caipín oíche duit,’ ar sise agus lasadh ina grua.
‘Níor chuireamar bronntanas Maria Godley faoin gcrann,’ arsa Eleanor. ‘Fuaireamar piscín cait di.’‘Come into the living room, Father, you will see the Christmas tree,’ said Eleanor guiding him. ‘Is it still snowing?’
‘No, thank God.’
‘The presents are under the tree,’ Belinda said to him in a whisper, ‘Guess what I made for you this year.’
‘I would have no idea,’ he said, ‘if you haven’t made me a cake?’
“I knit a night-cap for you,’ she said blushing.
‘We did not put Maria Godley’s gift under the tree<,' Eleanor said. 'We got her a kitten.'treorú guidance, direction m Tomhais Measure; weigh, gauge, estimate, guess tuarim opinion caipín cap lasadh lighting grua (upper part of) cheek g
‘Bhí Maria uaigneach i ndiaidh di Pussikins a chailliúint,’ a mhínigh Penny dó, os íseal. ‘Goideadh Pussikins . . . fear le sacán sa cheantar . . . ag goid cat, ar mhaithe le fionnadh, is baolach. Tá faitíos ar Eleanor go rachaidh Maria le craobhacha i ngeall air.’
‘Maria was lonely after losing her Pussikins,’ Penny explained to him, softly. ‘Pussikins was stolen … a man with a sack in the area … stealing a cat, for the sake of fur, is to be feared. Eleanor is afraid that Maria will go mad because of him.’
uaigneach lonely goid steal Ar mhaithe le … for the sake of fionnadh fur m baolach dangerous is baolach is to be feared craobh branch, bough f pls craobhacha
Cuireadh an Duinníneach ina shuí cois tine i gcathaoir Thomas E. Cruikshank, ‘Papa’ nár mhair, agus slipéirí cniotáilte, bróidneáilte Hetty Brown – nár chniotálaí maith í – ar a chosa aige, gloine ina láimh. Shuigh Eleanor os a chomhair i gcathaoir a máthar. Labhair sí go stuama ar staid na tíre. D’fhill an triúr eile ar an gcistin. Faoi cheann leathuaire, chraith Eleanor a ceann./i>
Dineen was seated by the fire in the chair of Thomas E. Cruikshank, ‘Papa’ deceased, and knit slippers, embroidered by Hetty Brown – she was not a good knitter – on his feet, a glass in his hand. Eleanor sat opposite him in her mother’s chair. She spoke sensibly about the state of the country. The other three returned to the kitchen. Within half an hour, Eleanor shook her head.
stuama sensibly craith = croith shake v
‘Is ait nach bhfuil Maria Godley tagtha go fóill.’
‘Nár tháinig Maria?’ a d’fhiafraigh Hetty ar ball beag, a ceann á shá isteach an doras aici [?]. ‘Tá an bia ullamh.’
‘D’fhéadfá gloine líomanáide a thabhairt chugam, Hetty,’ arsa Eleanor.
Ar sise leis an Duinníneach nuair d’imigh Hetty:
‘Ón uair gur chaill sí a cat, tá Maria uaigneach agus is baolach go bpósfaidh sí a garraíodóir.’
‘Tubaist a bheadh ansan, dar leat?’‘It is strange that Maria Godley has not yet arrived.’
‘Hasn’t Maria come?’ Hetty asked after a little while, her head thrust into the door [by her], ‘The food is ready.’
‘You can bring me a glass of lemonade, Hetty,’ Eleanor said.
She told Dineen when Hetty left:
‘From the time she lost her cat, Maria has been lonely and it is to be feared that she will marry her gardener.
‘That would be a disaster, you think?’ar ball beag a little while ago; after a little while sá Thrust, stab; push, press; dart, lunge m vn of sáigh ullamh Ready, willing, prompt; prepared garraíodóir gardener m Tubaiste Calamity, disaster, tragedy f dar leat according to you
‘Níl uaidh ach a teach agus a cuid airgid. Tá sí a dhá oiread chomh sean leis. Fuair sí cuireadh uaidh an Nollaig a chaitheamh leis féin agus lena mháthair. Gheall sí go dtiocfadh sí anseo . . . ach bhí Maria riamh corr.’
Tháinig Hetty ar ais ón gcistin le gloine líomanáide. Leag Eleanor uaithi ar an matal é.
‘Rachaidh mé tigh Mharia á lorg,’ ar sise. ‘Ní thógfaidh sé i bhfad uaim. Nílim socair ina taobh.’‘He just wants her house and her money. She is twice as old as he is. She was invited to spend Christmas with him and his mother. She promised to come here . . . but Maria was always odd.’
Hetty came back from the kitchen with a glass of lemonade. Eleanor set it on the mantelpiece.
‘I will go looking to Mary ‘s house,’ she said. ‘It will not take me long. I am uneasy about it.’cuireadh invitiation m matal Mantle, cloak; Mantelpiece m socair Quiet, still; calm, unruffled; easy, steady; settled; at rest
‘Rachad[?] id theannta,’ arsa an Duinníneach.
Shiúil siad ó Bhóthar na hArdpháirce síos go cúinne Bhóthar Mhacsuel mar a raibh cónaí ar Mharia. Bhí an sneachta leáite ar na bóithre ach bhí an lá ag cruachan agus bhí nimh sa ghaoth.
‘Tá Maria scaipthe taomnach ach ceanglaíonn sí an geata de ghnáth,’ arsa Eleanor, ‘agus féach lorg na gcoiscéim ón teach amach . . . coiscéimeanna fir iad. Táid mór. Cosa beaga slacht – mhara atá ag Maria. Tá sí péacach freisin agus ní fhaca mé riamh í gan sálaí arda fúithi.’
‘Bhí an té a rinne na loirg seo ag deifriú,’ arsa an Duinníneach. ‘Feach go raibh béim chun tosaigh ar na bróga.’‘I will go with you,’ said Dineen
They walked from High Park Road to the corner of Maxwell Road since that was where Maria lived. The snow had melted on the roads but the day was hardening and the wind was bitter.
‘Maria is distracted but she usually latches the gate,’ said Eleanor, ‘and look at the marks of the footsteps out from the house . . . they are the footprints of a man. They are big. Maria has Tidy little feet. She is also a gaily-dressed person and I never saw her without high heels (under her).id = i do teannta Strait, difficulty, predicament m i dteannta along with leáite melted cruachan hardening nimh poison scaipthe scattered, dispersed; Wandering, disconnected, confused taomnach = taomach Moody, erratic; subject to bouts of illness; subject to fits, hysterical coiscéim Footstep; pace f slacht tidiness mara = mura if not, unless péacach Showy, gaudy, gaily-dressed; Showy, gaudy, gaily-dressed Sáil heel
‘Bhí an té a rinne na loirg seo ag deifriú,’ arsa an Duinníneach. ‘Feach go raibh béim chun tosaigh ar na bróga.’
[end p 11] Chnag Eleanor go húdarásach ar an doras. Tost. D’fhéach sí trí bhosca na litreach. Tost. Bhí solas ar siúl sa halla.
‘B’fhéidir gur buaileadh breoite í,’ arsa Miss Crookshank, ‘gur tháinig an dochtúir sular thit an sneachta agus gur imigh sé i ndiaidh an cheatha.’
‘B’fhéidir é,’ arsa an Duinníneach, ach rith leagan eile den scéal leis.[?]
Ba bheainín beag dathúil, lán giodaim, í Maria.
Glas Yale a bhí ar an doras, fuinneoigín gloine taobh leis.
‘Brisfead [?] an gloine,’ a d’fhógair Eleanor.
‘Ná dein,’ arsa an Duinníneach.‘The one who made these footprints was in a hurry,’ said Dineen. ‘See there is a stress at the front of the shoes.
Eleanor knocked firmly on the door. Silence. She looked through the letterbox. Silence. There was a light in the hall.
‘Perhaps she fell ill,’ said Miss Crookshank, ‘and the doctor came before the snow fell and he left after the shower.’
‘Perhaps,’ said Dineen, but there was another version of the story occurred to him.
Maria was a colorful little woman, full of giddiness.
There was a Yale lock on the door, with a glass window beside it.
‘I will break the glass,’ called Eleanor.
‘Don’t do it,’ said Dineen.béim blow, stroke; notch; emphasis f rith údarásach Authoritative; Dictatorial, presumptuous Buaileadh breoite í she fell ill sula, sular before [in time] cith shower [rain/snow] m gs ceatha Lán giodaim Full of giddiness
Thóg sé a phortús as a phóca agus thóg sé cárta cuimhneacháin agus bhain sé an glas den doras leis an gcárta. Réab Eleanor suas staighre agus í ag glaoch ‘Maria!’ Bhí an teach folamh, doras an tseomra codalta ar leathadh, an leaba neamhchóirithe. In aice na leapa, bhí mála néata leathair.
He took his breviary out of his pocket and he took a memorial card and he opened the lock of the door with the card. Eleanor tore upstairs calling ‘Maria!’ The house was empty, the bedroom door wide open, the bed unmade. Next to the bed there was a neat leather bag.
Portús Breviary Cárta cuimhneacháin Memorial card Réab Eleanor suas staighre Eleanor tore upstairs ar leathadh wide open neamhchóirithe undressed
‘Tá a sparán agus a cuid eochracha istigh,’ arsa Eleanor.
D’fhéach sí faoin bpilliúr agus i gciseán na n-éadaí.
‘Níl a cuid éadaí oíche sa timpeall.’
D’fhéach sí sa bhardrús.
‘Níl a cóta anseo, ach sin iad na bróga a bhíonn uirthi de ghnáth.’
Níor bhog aon ní sa teach seachas súile péinteáilte Pussikins ina phortráid os cionn mhatal an tseomra suí. Lean siad san Eleanor agus an tAthair Pádraig go magúil.‘It’s her purse and her keys inside, said Eleanor.
She looked under the pillow and in the clothesbasket.
‘Her night clothes are not around’
‘Her coat isn’t here, but those are the shoes she usually wears.’
Nothing moved in the house besides Pussikins’ painted eyes in his portrait above the living room mantelpiece. They followed Eleanor and Father Patrick mockingly.piliúr pillow m ciseán basket m Vardrús wardrobe m seachas besides, other than, rather than; compared to magúil mocking
Amach leo ar an mbóthar arís. Ba léir ó na bolaithe cócaireachta agus na soilse go raibh na comharsain[var pl?] ag comóradh na Nollag. Shiúil fear amháin ina dtreo, mála glaice aige agus deifir air. Chas sé isteach i dteach trasna an bhóthair[gen per trasna] uathu. Tháinig dhá chat ag rith ón gclaí ag éileamh cead isteach air.
‘Gaibh mo leithscéal, a dhuine uasail, táimid ag lorg Maria Godley. An bhfaca tú í ar maidin, d’aon tseans?’Out with them on the road again. It was clear from the smells of cooking and the lights that the neighbors were celebrating Christmas. One man walked in their direction, he had a clutch bag and was hurrying. He turned into a house across the road from them. Two cats came running from the fence demanding permission to enter.
‘Excuse me, sir, we are looking for Maria Godley. Have you seen her this morning, by any chance?comharsa Neighbour f npl comharsana comóradh Gathering, assembly; celebration m Mála glaice Clutch bag claí Dike, wall; fence m éileamh Claim, demand m
‘Ní fhaca. D’imíos[?] amach ar maidin thart ar a hocht. Bhí sé geimhriúil go maith, dorcha, i ndiaidh a bheith ag cur sneachta. Ní bheinn amuigh murach go rabhas ceapaithe im Dheaidí na Nollag in Ospidéal na Mí . . . cuairt ar aireagal na leanaí. Tá na leanaí agam féin fásta. Seans maith gur imigh Miss Godley as baile don Nollaig.’
‘Did not see. I left about eight in the morning. It was good and wintry, after the snow. I wouldn’t have been out if it wasn’t for Santa’s appointment at Meath Hospital. . . visit the children’s ward. My own children are adults. Good chance are Miss Godley left home for Christmas.’
geimhriúil wintry im i mo aireagal (hospital) ward
‘Bhí sí le teacht ar cuairt chugamsa ach níor tháinig sí. An raibh geata an tí ar oscailt nó dúnta agus tú ar do shlí amach?’
‘Dúnta, a déarfainn[cond]. Thabharfainn faoi ndeara dá mbeadh sé ar oscailt.’
D’imigh sé leis[?] isteach agus na cait sna sála aige.
Ón uair go raibh a haird ar bhróga agus a rianta, d’fhéach Eleanor ar a chosa siúd. Bhí na cait ag guairdeall thart ar phéire buataisí a raibh fuíoll uaidín cadáis ar a mbarr. Buataisí Santa Claus.‘She wanted to come visit me but she didn’t come. Was the gate of the house open or closed while you were on your way out?’
‘Closed, I would say. I would have noticed if it were open.’
He walked in with the cats on his heels.
Since her attention was on shoes and their tracks, Eleanor looked at those feet of his. The cats were hovering around a pair of boots topped with cotton wool trimming. Boots of Santa Claus.sáil heel f gpl sál aird direction; attention; notice, mention f rian course, path; trace, mark, track m pl rianta buatais top boot f pl buataisí Ag guairdeall Hovering fuíoll remainder, remains; surplus; consequences, after-effects m Fuíoll uaidín cadáis cotton wool trimming
D’fhill an Duinníneach ar rian na gcoiscéimeanna tigh Mharia. ‘Chas an té a rinne iad ar dheis. Féach an casadh atá faoin gceann seo ag an ngeata. Brostaímis.’
‘An dóigh leat,’ arsa Eleanor os íseal ‘gurb é gur ardaigh Fred, an garraíodóir, amach as an teach ar a ghuaillí í, ar chúl oíche?’
‘Ní dóigh liom é, a thaisce. Maria féin a shiúil síos an cosán seo ar maidin. Ní raibh aon bhróga tí in aice na leapa. Shiúil sí amach agus bróga tí uirthi, a cóta os cionn a cuid éadaí oíche. Tá lorg na mbróg mór as cuimse mar go méadaíonn poll sa sneachta de réir mar a thagann leá.’Dineen returned to the footsteps at[of] Maria’s house. ‘The one who made them turned right. See the turn under this one at the gate. Let us hurry.’
‘Do you think,’ said Eleanor softly ‘That Fred, the gardener, lifted her out of the house on his shoulders, in the back [under the cover] of the night?’
‘I do not think so, my dear. Maria herself walked down this path this morning. There were no house shoes near the bed. She walked out wearing house shoes, her coat over her nightwear. The prints of the big shoes are out of proportion to the hole in the snow from melting.’brostaigh hasten, urge; hurry brostaímis “Let us hurry” (1st pers pl imp) ardaigh raise; elevate; ascend; carry garraíodóir gardener m taisce Store, treasure, hoard cosán Path; Footway, track; Way, passage; direction m lorg trace As cuimse Out of proportion méadaigh Increase, multiply; enlarge, augment; grow bigger poll hole m de réir according to leá melting, dissolution m
‘Ní féidir liom aon ní a shamhlú a thabharfadh ar bhean uasal siúl amach gan í a bheith gléasta i gceart.’
Ag barr Bhóthar Ráth Maonais, mar a mbíonn cóistí capaill ar chúlaibh[?] a chéile de ghnáth, ní raibh ach searbhaí[?] beag cantalach gliomshúileach amháin ar diúité, capall cnámhach agus cóiste caite aige.I can’t imagine anything that would make a lady walk out without being properly dressed.’
At the top of Rathmines Road, where horse-drawn carriages are usually backed together, there was only one peevish little pink-eyed driver on duty, he had a bony worn horse and carriage.gléasta well-dressed cóiste coach, carriage m cúlaigh Back, move back; reverse, retreat va cúlaithe searbhaigh Sour, embitter; become bitter cantalach Plaintive; peevish, querulous gliomshúileach pink-eyed diúité duty m cnámhach bony caite worn, consumed, spent
‘Bean uasal mheánaosta, cóta donn uirthi agus hata dubh, í faoi dheifir, díreach sular gheal an mhaidin? Yeah! Thugas[Mun] síob di.’
Bleá Cliathach beag seirgthe ab ea é[copula?], é[?] préachta, ag casachtaigh[var gen], crosta.
‘Cá háit ar fhág tú í?’‘A middle-aged lady, wearing a brown coat and a black hat, she [was] in a hurry, just before bright morning? Yeah! I gave her a ride.’
Dubliner [the driver] was a little withered, perished with cold, coughing, cross.
‘Where did you leave her?’geal bright, white síob drift; drive, ride bleácach Under-sized person or animal; Insignificant person m Cliathach Ribbed, latticed; criss-cross searg Waste, wither; dry up, shrivel; wear away, decline v préach perish (with cold) casachtach (Act of) coughing; cough f gcasachtaí crosta Fractious; troublesome, difficult
‘Chaith sí í féin isteach im fheithicil agus “Lean an cóiste sin romhainn!” á rá aici. Bhí roinnt éigin cóistí amuigh ag an am ag freastal ar lucht Aifrinn agus ní rabhas róchinnte cén ceann a leanfainn. Ní bhíonn dealramh ar bith le mná, ar aon nós. Thugas buille faoi thuairim. Ar aghaidh linn ar Bhóthar Ráth Maonais, thar Phortobello agus síos Sráid Risteamain. Chuir sí stop liom ag Cúinne Uí Cheallaigh . . . á rá liom gur tháinig sí amach gan a sparán agus an dtabharfainn abhaile í. Sin iad na mná agat!’
‘She threw herself into my vehicle and “Follow that coach ahead!” she was saying. I wasn’t too sure which one to follow. Women have no sense, anyway. I made a guess. Forward a while on Rathmines Road, over Portobello and down Richmond Street. She stopped me at Kelly’s Corner . . . telling me she came out without her purse and would I take her home? Those are your women!
feithicil vehicle f freastal Attendance, service dealramh Sheen, splendour, radiance m Ní bhíonn dealramh ar bith le mná Women have no sense buille blow, stroke tuairim opinion f buille faoi thuairim random stroke, guess
‘Thug tú abhaile í?”
‘D’athraigh sí a hintinn arís. Agus muid ag dul ar ais i dtreo an Droichid d’iarr sí orm casadh isteach i bPlásóg Charlotte. Ar ndóigh, dhiúltaigh mé. Níl aon áit chun casadh thart sa cul de sac sin. Lena chois sin bhí an lá tar éis gealadh agus d’fhéadfainn a fheiscint nach raibh sí gléasta mar a bhíonn a leithéidí de ghnáth. Níor theastaigh uaimse aon bhaint a bheith agam le gealt mná. D’fhágas[Mun] slán ag mo tháille agus scaoileas amach ar an mbóthar í.’‘Did you take her home?’
‘She changed her mind again. As we headed back towards the Bridge she asked me to turn into Charlotte Green. Of course I refused. There is no place to turn around in that cul de sac. Along with that the day was brightening and I could see that she was not dressed as usual. I did not want to have anything to do with a crazy woman. I said good-bye to my fare and I let her out on the road.Plásóg Level spot, lawn, green f diúltaigh Deny, refuse gealadh Dawning, dawn m feiscint seen gléasta well-dressed leithéid Like, counterpart, equal; such f pl leithéidí de ghnáth usually gealt Crazy person, lunatic f Lena chois sin Along with that táille Tally, score, charge; fee; fare fág slán say goodbye scaoil Loose(n), release, discharge; untie, unfasten; open; let go scaoileas I released/discharged/opened/let go/… Mun
‘Tá mé cinnte go raibh sí gléasta go modhúil, mura raibh sí gléasta go coinbhinsiúnta,’ arsa Eileanor.
‘Fág an bheirt againne san áit ar fhág tú í,’ arsa an Duinníneach.
‘Táim ag dul faoi choinne mo dhinnéir.’‘I’m sure she was dressed modestly, if she wasn’t dressed conventionally,’ Eleanor said.
‘Leave both of us where you left her,’ Dineen said.
‘I’m going for my dinner.’modhúil Well-behaved, mannerly; mild, gentle, modest coinne appointment; expectation (of meeting) f
[p 15]‘Réal le cois an táille.’
‘Isteachaigí libh!’
‘D’fhágas anseo ag an gcúinne í,’ arsa an searbhaí ar ball. ‘An bhfanfaidh mé oraibh?’
‘Fan.’
Bhí na tithe beag, táite ar a chéile, gan ach an t-aon stór iontu, gan ach slat idir doras agus geata. Bhí an Nollaig á comóradh go faíoch ina bhfurmhór. Crochta ar spíce an gheata lasmuigh de theach amháin, bhí maróg mhór na Nollag ag galú.Sixpence along with the fare.
‘In with you!’
‘I left her here at the corner,’ the servant/driver said later.
‘Will I wait for you?’
‘Wait.’
The houses were small, set together, with only one storey, only a yard between door and gate. Christmas was being celebrated loudly in the majority. Hanging on the spike of the gate outside one house, was a steaming Christmas pudding.táthaigh Weld, solder, bind; Set, solidify; Coalesce, unite slat rod, slender stick; yard comóradh Gathering, assembly; celebration m faíoch Loud, plaintive; Free, fluent; copious, profuse furmhór = formhór Greater part, majority Crochta Hung, hanged; hanging spíce spike m maróg pudding f
‘Uimhir 76,’ arsa Eleanor ag breathnú ar an gcéad teach sa Phlásóg. ‘An mbeidh orainn cnagadh ar gach aon doras?’
‘Siúlaimis[1st per pl imp] thart i dtosach,’ arsa an Duinníneach.
‘B’fhéidir gur chóir dúinn dul abhaile. Is é is dóichí ná gur dhein sí breith obann, ar maidin, an Nollaig a chaitheamh le Fred agus a mháthair, ainneoin mo chomhairle. Níor mhaith liom siúl isteach orthu.’‘Number 76,’ said Eleanor looking at the first house in the Green. ‘Will we have to knock on every door?’
‘Let’s walk around first,’ said Dineen.
‘Maybe we should go home. Most likely she made a sudden decision, in the morning, to spend Christmas with Fred and his mother, despite my advice. I wouldn’t want to walk into them.cóir just, proper obann = tobann Sudden, unexpected breith birth; judgement, decision f ainneoin despite comhairle advice, counsel
‘Ní hé sin a tharla. Cuimhnigh go raibh duine éigin á leanúint aici i dtosach. Chas sí ar ais nuair a chuimhnigh sí nach raibh luach an chóiste aici. Is dócha gur chuimhnigh sí ansin nach raibh eochair an tí aici. Bhí náire uirthi dul chuig a cairde agus í gan bhróga; ceaileacó uirthi seachas cadás. Leagfaidh mé geall go bhfuil cónaí ar dhuine éigin anseo nach dtógfadh aon cheann den chruth a bhí uirthi.’
‘That is not what happened. Remember someone was following her in the beginning. She turned back when she remembered that she did not have fare for the coach. She probably remembered then that she didn’t her house key. She was embarrassed to go to her friends without shoes; wearing calico instead of cotton I will bet here is the dwelling of someone who would not take any notice of her appearance.’
luach value; price; reward ceaileacó calico m seachas Besides, other than, rather than; compared to cadás cotton m leag knock down; lower; lay, set geall Pledge, security; Wager, bet; Wager, bet; promise m cruth shape, appearance; State, condition aon cheann any notice
‘Fred!’
‘B’fhéidir é. Fill ar an gcóiste más fearr leat, Eleanor.’
‘Téimis[1st pers pl imp of téigh] ar aghaidh.’
Rinne an tAthair Pádraig scrúdú ar na tithe ceann ar cheann. ‘Céard tá á lorg agat!’
‘Nílim róchinnte. Leid éigin. Bíonn rath ar an útamáil,’ ar seisean, agus é ag gliúcaíocht trí bhearna i gcuirtíní tí amháin, i ndiaidh dó a shrón a shá i mbosca litreach tí eile. Bhí siad thíos i [end p 15] dtóin chaoch an cul de sac nuair a d’aimsigh siad an leid.‘Fred!’
‘Perhaps him. Return to the coach if you prefer, Eleanor.’
‘Let’s move on. [lit ‘forward’].
Fr. Patrick examined the houses one by one. ‘What trace of her do you have!’
‘I’m not too sure. Some hint. There is good in puttering,’ he said, when peering through a gap in the curtains of one house, after sticking his nose in another house’s letterbox. They were down in the blind bottom of the cul de sac when they found the clueLeid Hint, inkling; prompt; pointer, clue f rath Bestowal, grant; grace, favour; gift, bounty; prosperity m útamáil (Act of) fumbling, groping, bungling; (act of) pottering f Bíonn rath ar an útamáil Fumbling brings fortune gliúcaíocht (Act of) peering; furtiveness f bearna gap f sá Thrust, stab; push, press; dart, lunge m caoch end, bottom; blind person m aimsigh aim; hit; find; make attempt at v
Is í ar dteanga í | Bríd Ní Neachtain
Nótaí faoi scéalta
| Táimid an-imníoch faoin bpolaitíocht | ||
| Ní oibríonn M ag an siopa meisciúla anois. | ||
| Tá an iomarca daoine ann gan maisc nó ag caitheamh droch-mhaisc | ||
From Hilbert Space to Dilbert Space, and beyond 