Duinnín agus an Bótun

Dineen and the Mistake

Botún, pl. -i, a smith’s paring knife; an unfledged bird; misfortune, irreparable mistake; ní raibh aon bhotún. ‘na béal nuair d’ith sé an fheoil … rinne mé mo bhotún …

• ‘Aitheim’ arsa an Duinníneach agus é ag taibhsiú taobh thiar
  den gheolaí mór le rá, an t-aindiagaí Abraham Tomkins, sa Leabharlann Náisiúnta.

  ‘Umf,’ a d’fhreagair Abraham.

  ‘Fágaimis Dia as an áireamh, cad ann a chreideann tú?’ a d’fhiafraigh an Duinníneach de.

  
  

  ‘Ahem!’ said Dineen to the eminent geologist looming behind him, the atheist Abraham Tomkins, in the National Library.

  ‘Umf,’ answered Abraham.

  ‘Let us leave God out of the reckoning, what do you believe?’ Dineen asked him.

  taibhsigh	loom	v
  geolaí	geologist	m
  aindiagaí	atheist	m
  áireamh	Count(ing), enumeration; census	m

• ‘Ha!’ a d’fhreagair Abraham agus chrom sé ar léacht a thabhairt uaidh, beag beann ar an ngoimh i súile an leabharlannaí agus drochfhéachaintí ó na léitheoirí eile.
  Lig an tAthair Pádraig leis. Nior éist sé. Nior ghá. Bhí an léacht cloiste aige cheana. Bhí a fhios aige go mbeadh an abairt seo ag an deireadh. ‘Creidim sa chloch, sa charraig agus sa duine daonna.’

  ‘Ha!’ answered Abraham and bent over to give a lecture [from him], regardless of the venom in the librarian’s eyes and the nasty looks from the other readers.

  Father Patrick let him. He did not listen. No need. He had already heard the lecture. He knew how this sentence would be at the end. ‘I believe in stone, rock and humanity.’

  crom	Bend, stoop	v, a
  léacht	lecture	f
  beann	horn, antler; regard, dependence	f
  goimh	sting, venom	f
  leabharlannaí	librarian
  drochfhéachaint	wicked look	f
  léitheoir	reader	m
  cloch	stone	f

• ‘Aililiú agus Áiméan,’ arsa an Duiinníneach nuair a shroich Tomkins an abairt sin. ‘Leanann as a bhfuil ráite agat, ar ndóigh, go mairimid ar scáth a chéile, gur maol gualainn gan bráthair; gur cóir cabhrú le daonnaí bocht eile atá i dtrioblóid.’‘Leanann,’ arsa Tomkins go mall agus é ag iarraidh treo na cainte seo a mheas.
  ‘Cuir ort do chaipín agus tar liom go Mullach Íde. Tá cara liom i mbaol agus beidh do chúnamh de díth.’

  ‘Alleluia and Amen,’ said Dineen when Tomkins reached that phrase. ‘It follows from what you have said, that we live in each other’s shadow, that a shoulder is bare without a brother, that it is right to help other poor people in trouble.’

  ‘It follows,’ said Tomkins slowly, trying to gauge the direction of this speech.

  ‘Put on your cap and come with me to Malahide. A friend of mine is in danger and will need your help.’

  mair	live, last	v
  scáth	shade, shadow	m
  maol	bare, bald
  meas	Estimate, value, judge; deem, consider	v
  treo	Direction, way	m
  caipín	cap	m
  baol	danger	m
  díth	Loss; deprivation, destruction	f

• Bhí sé i gceist ag Abraham Tomkins an tráthnóna a chaitheamh
  ag cóipeáil léarscáile geolaíoch de Chontae an Chláir ach,
  ar chuma éigin, rug a lámh ar a chaipín agus lean sé an Duinníneach.

  ‘Seo sampla eile de róthionchar na cléire ar an intleacht
  Éireannach,’ ar seisean.

  
  ‘Nach méanar duit go mbeidh gearán eile agat i gcoinne na
  hEaglaise?’

  Abraham Tomkins had intended to spend the afternoon copying a geological map of County Clare but, somehow, put his hand on his cap and followed Dineen.

  ‘Here is another example of the clergy’s excessive influence of the intellect of Ireland,’ he said.

  ‘Aren’t you happy to have another complaint against the church?’

  cóipeáil	copying	f
  léarscáil	map	f
  tionchar	influence	m
  cléir	clergy	f gs cléire
  intleacht	Intellect, intelligence	f
  méanar	happy, fortunate
  gearán	Complaint, Grievance, accusation

• D’imigh sé ó sholas agus iad ag siúl sios chun na traenach. Cé
  go raibh an t-earrach san aer, na préacháin ag deanamh neadacha,
  colúir fhireanna na cathrach ag grágaíl ar nós asal, ní
  raibh aon fhaid sa lá go fóill …

  Phlab na dóirse, séideadh an fheadóg, lig an t-inneall sian
  gaile agus bhog an traein. Réitigh an tAthair Pádraig páipéirí
  agus leabhair ar an suíochán taobh leis agus leag se a hata anuas
  orthu go cúramach.

  He left light/The light failed as they walked down to the train. While spring was in the air, the crows making nests, male city pigeons cackling like donkeys, there was not any length in the day yet …

  The doors slammed, the whistle blowing, the engine let out a squeal of steam and the train moved. Father Patrick arranged papers and books on the seat next to him and carefully laid his hat on them.

  préachán	crow, rook	m
  nead	nest	f pl neadacha
  colúr	pigeon	m
  grágaíl	cawing, croaking; braying; cackling; squawking	f
  plab	Plop, plash, splash; Slam, bang
  séideadh	blowing
  feadóg	whistle	f
  sian	Whistling, plaintive, sound; whine, squeal; Hum of voices; talk, report	f
  gaile	Vapor, steam

• ‘Cara liom, Miss Sweetman,’ ar seisean . . . ‘Rugadh i dteach
  mór i, duine den aicme Angla-Éireannach … seilg, rince, bláthanna,
  teangacha, líníocht, díreach mar a thaitneodh Willie
  Yeats . . . ach, nuair a cailleadh a hathair, Buckley Sweetman –
  thit sé dá chapall agus é ag seilg – nior fhág sé ina dhiaidh ach
  fiacha. Cheannaigh sé mianach diamaintí san Afraic Theas,
  tamall sular cailleadh é, The Gallows Grid Mine. Mealladh é.
  Nior tháinig fiú clocha scáil as. Fágadh Molly Sweetman ar
  bheagán slí. Tá cónaí uirthi i dtigín beag atá ar cíos aici i
  Mulach Íde. Tá an daichead scoite[??] aici. Tá teacht isteach beag
  aici – ús ar shuim airgid a d’fhág seanaintín le huacht aici. Ní
  mórán é agus is lú a luach in aghaidh an lae.’

  ‘My friend, Miss Sweetman,’ he said . . . ‘Born in a great house, a member of the Anglo-Irish class … hunting, dancing, flowers, language, drawing, just as Willie Yeats would like. But, when her father, Buckley Sweetman, died – he fell off his horse while hunting – he left behind only debts. He bought a diamond mine in South Africa, shortly before his death, The Gallows Grid Mine. He was deceived. Not even quartz came out. Molly Sweetman was left in a poor way. She lives in a small cottage she rents in Malahide. She is forty something.She has a small income – interest on a sum of money left by her Great-aunt in her will. It’s not much and is less every day.’

  aicme	Genus; class; Family, tribe; Set, clique	f
  seilg	Hunt, chase	f
  mianach	ore, mine	m
  meall	eguile, charm; entice	v
  scáil	shadow; Shade; darkness, obscurity	f
  cíos	rent	m
  scoite	Severed, Disconnected, discrete, Separated, scattered far apart; isolated
  ús	interest [on money]	m
  suim	Sum, amount; account, value	f
  seanaintín	Great-Aunt	f
  uacht	will, testament	f
  luach	value	m

• ‘Níl tú dom tharraingt amach sa bhfásach mar go bhfuil
  seanmhaighdean de sheanmhaighdeana an tsaoil, buartha faoi
  chúrsaí airgid?’

  You are not dragging me out into the wilderness because of the old maids of the old maids of the world.

  fásach	Waste, desert; uncultivated, uninhabited, region; empty, deserted, place	m
  dom ← do mo		[here]
  seanmhaighdean	Old maid	f

• ‘Ó, níl Molly buartha faoi chúrsaí airgid,’ a d’fhreagair an
  tAthair Pádraig go subhach. ‘Bíonn scéimeanna aici i gcónaí
  chun teacht timpeall ar fhadhbanna airgid. I mbliana, tá prátaí
  agus cabásti i measc na lusanna sa ghairdín tosaigh agus tá leitís
  aici ar leacacha na bhfuinneog.’

  ‘Nil dóthain le deanamh aici agus tá sí imithe le
  histéireachas, ag samhlú go bhfuil gliúmálaí i measc na
  gcabáistí?’

  
  ‘Is ball gníomhach de Chraobh an Chéitinnigh í Molly.
  Bíonn sí i mbun béilí sa Mhisean Anglacánach do Mhairnéalaigh
  agus déanann sí a scair i dTearmann na gCat.’

  ‘O, Molly is not worried about money,’ Father Patrick replied merrily. ‘She always has schemes to get around her money problems. This year, potatoes and cabbages are among the plants in the front garden and she has lettuce on the window sills.’

  ‘She’s not enough to do and she’s gone with hysteria, imagining that there is a prowler among the cabbages?’

  ‘Molly is an active member of the Kettering Branch. She is in charge of meals at the Anglican Mission for Sailors and she does her share in the Cat Sanctuary.

  buartha	Sorry, sorrowful; vexed, perturbed
  subhach	Glad, joyful; cheerful, merry
  scéim	scheme
  i measc	among
  lus	plant, herb	m
  leacach	Area of flat rocks, of flagstones	m
  dóthain	Enough, sufficiency
  gliúmálai	Peering, purblind, person; Prying person; furtive, secretive, person; Fumbler, groper	m
  gníomhach	active
  Craobh	branch, bough, tree
  mairnéalach	Mariner, seaman, sailor
  scair	share	f
  Tearmann	Sanctuary, place of refuge	m

• ‘Bhuel, céard tá cearr léi mar sin?’ arsa an fear eile go mí
  fhoighneach.

  ‘Ni cócaire ar fónamh mé,’ arsa an tAthair Pádraig. ‘Bíonn
  úlla agus cairéid agam don loin. Go minic ar mo shlí abhaile,
  oícheanta Mháirt, ceannaím cúpla scadán nó ruainne ae.
  Déanann Miss Sweetman an chócaireacht agus caithimid béile
  le chéile. Dhóigh sí an t-ae, Dé Máirt seo caite agus d’fhág sí na
  scadáin táite dá gcnámha an Mháirt roimhe sin – iad leath-amh.
  Bhí sí chomh scinnideach le dreoilín agus mé ann. Tá cloch
  meáchana caillte aici agus is léir nach gcodlaíonn sí

  
  ‘Tuige go dtugann tú cuairt uirthi ar an Máirt seachas ar aon
  lá eile?’

  ‘Well, what’s wrong with her then?’ said the other man impatiently.

  ‘I am not a excellent cook,’ said Father Patrick. ‘I have apples and carrots for lunch. Often on my way home, Tuesday nights, I buy a few herring or scraps of liver. Miss Sweetman does the cooking and we have a meal
  together. She burned the liver, last Tuesday, and she left the herrings stuck[welded] to their bones the previous Tuesday – half raw. She was as nervous as a wren while I was there. She has lost a stone in weight and is clearly not sleeping’

  ‘Why do you visit her on Tuesdays rather than any another day?’

  cearr	wrong
  cócaire	cook	m
  fónamh	Service; usefulness, benefit; validity	m
  scadán	herring	m
  ruainne	(single) hair; scrap
  ae	liver	m
  Dóigh	Burn; sear, scorch	v
  amh	raw
  scinnideach	Easily frightened, nervous, timid; flighty
  meáchan	weight	m
  seachas	Besides, other than, rather than; compared to
  tuige ← cad chuige

• ‘Dé Luain, téim ar cuairt chuig Mrs. Mason … agus Dé
  Céadaoin. . .’

  ‘Tuigim.’

  ‘Ni inseoidh sí dom cad tá ag cur as di.’

  ‘Déanann sí faoistin leat de ghnáth?’

  
  ‘Labhraíonn mná liom,’ arsa an tAthair Pádraig go séimh.
  ‘Tuigeann siad nach bhfuil aon urchóid ionam, b’fhéidir. Ach
  nuair a d’fhiafraigh me de Mholly an raibh aon ní ar leith ag
  déanamh scime di, chuir sí gach dath di agus luaigh sí na lucha
  atá ag cur fútha sa tseid. Tá sí faoi sceimhle.’

  On Monday, I visit Mrs. Mason … and Wednesday. . .

  ‘I understand.’

  ‘She will not tell me what is bothering her.’

  ‘Does she usually make a confession to you?’

  ‘Women talk to me,’ said Father Patrick softly. ‘They understand there is not any iniquity in me, perhaps. But when I asked Molly if there was anything in particular that made her anxious, she put on her all the colors[???] and mentioned the mice that are under the shed[???]. She is terrified.’

  faoistin	confession	f
  urchóid	Harm, iniquity	f
  scime	(Cloud of) anxiety; concern, solicitude	f
  luaigh	mention, cite	v
  luch	mouse	f
  seid	shed
  fútha ← faoi [???]
  sceimhle	terror

• ‘Seachas a hiompar. ‘bhfuil fianaise agat go bhfuil fadhb ar
  leith aici?’

  
  ‘Labhair mé le comharsa léi, Miss Minnows, a bhfuil cónaí
  uirthi trasna an bhóthair uaithi. Chonaic sise fear ag coimhéad
  an tí. Caitheann Miss Minnows a lán ama ag faire trín bhfuinneog.
  Chonaic sí garlach mór giobalach, fathach fir, é maol,
  féasógach, scothaosta, cóta fada air, ag faire theach Mholly.
  Chonaic sí trí thráthnóna Aoine as a chéile é. Chuaigh sé i
  bhfolach aon uair ar tháinig Molly Sweetman amach as an
  teach.’

  ‘Besides this behavior. Do you have evidence that she has a particular problem?’

  ‘I spoke to a neighbor of hers, Miss Minnows, who lives across the road from her. She saw a man watching
  the house. Miss Minnows spends a lot of time watching out the window. She saw a large ragged tramp, a giant man, bald, bearded, elderly, wearing a long coat, watching Molly’s house. She saw him three Friday afternoons in a row. He went into hiding one time when Molly Sweetman came out of the house.’

  coimhéad	watch, guard	m
  garlach	Child, kid; brat, urchin	m
  giobalach = gioblach	Ragged, tattered
  maol	bare, bald
  féasógach	bearded
  scothaosta	Fairly old, elderly

• ‘D’inis Miss Minnows an scéal do Miss Sweetman?’
  ‘Níor inis. Nil siad ag caint le chéilé.’

  ‘ ‘Bhfuil rud ar bith ag Miss Sweetman gur fiú é a ghoid?’

  
  ‘Bhí bailiúchán cloch agus carraigeacha ag a hathair. Shamhlaigh sé é féin ina shaineolaí. B’shin ba chúis lena bhriseadh. Tá an cnuasach sa seomra suí. Rith sé liom go mb’fheidir nár theip mar a thuairisc Gallows Grid. Bhí Buckley Sweetman rúndiamhrach riamh agus cailleadh go hobann é.’
  

  ‘Did Miss Minnows tell this story to Miss Sweetman?’

  ‘No. They are not talking to each other.’

  ‘Does Miss Sweetman have anything worth stealing?’

  ‘Her father had a collection of stones and rocks.’He imagined himself an expert. That was the cause of his failure[financial]. The collection is in the living room. It occurred to me that Gallows Grid may not have faileladd as described. Buckley Sweetman was ever a mystery and was suddenly died.

  bailiúchán	collection
  samhlaigh	imagine
  saineolaí	expert
  cnuasach	gathered food; collection, store	m
  teip	failure
  rúndiamhracht	Mysticality, mysteriousness

• ‘Ach cad chuige nach bhfuil an robáil déanta cheana féin? An garlach gránna ag brath an tí trí Aoine as a chéile? An dún atá sa teach, dragan ag cosaint na maighdine istigh?’
  ‘Tigín beag. D’fhéadfadh éinne briseadh isteach ann ach dhá nóimead a bheith aige chuige. B’fhéidir nach briseadh isteach atá i gceist, áfach, ach sceimhle a chur ar Mholly … D’fhéadfadh páipéirí éigin a bhaineann le Gallows Grid a bheith á n-éileamh . . .’

  ‘But why has the robbery not already taken place? The ugly tramp is spying on the house for three Fridays in a row? Is the house a fort, a dragon guarding the maiden inside? ‘

  ‘A small house. Anyone could break into it having just two minutes [to go]. However, tt may not be breaking in, but is just to scare Molly. Could some related to Gallows Grid be in demand. . .

  robáil	robbery	f
  garlach	Child, kid; brat, urchin	m
  gránna	ugly
  brath	spying; perception, feeling	m
  dún	Fort; fortress
  sceimhle	terror	m
  éileamh	Claim, demand	n

• ‘Dá mbeadh tromaíocht den chineál sin á déanamh uirthi, nach rachadh sí chuig na póilíní, nó nach labhrodh sí leat fein, ón uair go bhfuil tú sochaideartha dar le mná na hÉireann, ar do
  thuairisc féin?’

  
  

  If she were bothered in that way, woundn’t she would not go to the police, or speak to you, since you are approachable by Irish women, by your own report?

  tromaíocht	(Act of) blaming, censuring; condemnation, censure, denigration
  sochaideartha	Approachable, sociable

• ‘D’fhéadfadh go mbeadh cíos dubh á éileamh uirthi . . . bhí
  iarracht de chaimiléireacht ag baint le Buckley Sweetman …
  ach is mór le Molly a chlú.’

  ‘Rógaire ar bhuail Sweetman bob air ag iarraidh díoltais?’

  ‘Teideal seilbhe ar an mianach?’

  ‘Chonaic tú an bailúichán cloch. ‘Bhfuil seoda ann?’

  ‘Beidh tusa in ann a rá liom. Chuige sin a thugas anseo tú.
  Agus is maith liom gur leaid mór láidir tú freisin. Cuirfidh mé
  in aithne do Mholly tú mar mhac léinn diagachta atá ar cuairt
  chugam. Ar ith tú lón inniu?’

  ‘Nior ith.’

  ‘Perhaps black rent may be demanded from her. Buckley Sweetman was involved in an attempted fraud. His reputation is important to Molly.’

  ‘A rogue Sweetman conned wanted revenge?’

  ‘Title of possession of the mine?’

  ‘You saw the stone collection. Are there jewels?’

  ‘You will be able to tell me. To/For that I brought you here. And I like that you’re a big strong lad too. I will introduce you to Molly as a theological student visiting me. Did you eat lunch today?’

  ‘No.’

  cíos	rent	m
  éileamh	Claim, demand	n
  caimiléireacht	Crookedness, dishonesty	f
  clú	Reputation; honour, renown	m
  Rógaire	Rogue	m
  bob a bhualadh	play a trick
  díoltas	Vengeance, revenge	m
  Teideal	title	m
  seilbh	Occupancy, possession	f seilbhe
  diagacht	Divinity; Godhood, divine nature; Godliness, piety; Theology	f
  chuige ← chun	to him/her/it

• ‘Maith mar a tharla. Beidh cuma ocrach dhiaganta ort. Inis di
  go bhfuil tú ar céalacan. Níl ach dhá bhreac agam don tae.’

  Bean álainn fhionn a d’oscail an doras rompu. Is géar an tsúil
  a thabharfadh faoi ndeara go raibh lúibíní dorcha faoina súile.

  ‘A Athair! … Ar an Aoine!’ arsa Molly. ‘Fáilte romhat …
  romhaibh . . . Fáilte . . . ‘Sé sin le rá tagaigí isteach agus bhur
  gcéad fáilte. . .’

  
  Chuir an Duinníneach Tomkins in aithne mar mhac léinn
  diagachta dá chuid. Rinne sé gáire beag mioscaiseach nuair a
  chonaic sé an chaoi a ndeachaidh scéimh Mholly i bhfeidhm ar
  Abraham. Lúb cat mór donn thart ar a gcosa. Lig an mac léinn
  diagachta sraoth.

  ‘Good as it happened. You will look divinely hungry. Tell her you’re on a morning fast. I only have two trout for tea.[???]’

  A beautiful blond woman opened the door for them. The sharp eye would notice that there were dark circle under her eyes.

  ‘Father … on Friday!’ said Molly.’Welcome to you … you [pl] … Welcome. That is to say come in and a hundred welcomes to you.’

  Dineen introduced Tomkins as his theological student. He let out a small mischievous smile when he saw how Molly’s beauty had affected Abraham. A large brown cat twisted around their legs. The theology student sneezed.

  salmon

  ocrach	hungry
  céalacan	Morning fast	m
  breac	trout
  bréag	lie, falsehood	f
  géar	sharp
  lúibín	loop; ringlet	m
  mioscaiseach	Spiteful, malicious; trouble-making
  scéimh	Beauty	f
  feidhm	Function; use, service; work, office, dut
  lúb	loop	f & v
  sraoth	sneeze	m

• ‘A Mholly, scaoil isteach sa seomra suí muid. Cuireann cait
  isteach ar Tomkins bocht agus tá sé róchráifach “Dia linn” a rá
  nuair a ligeann sé sraoth, ar eagla go mbeadh san[??}] easurramach
  seachas deabhóideach.’

  ‘Grrrr,’ arsa Tomkins.

  Thug Molly isteach sa seomra suí iad.

  
  ‘Tugaigí cúpla nóiméad dom agus beidh cupán tae agam
  daoibh,’ a gheall sí. ‘Suígí anseo cois fuinneoige
  agus bígí ag faire farraige agus faoileán[gpl??].’

  ‘Molly, Let us into the living room. cats bother Tompkins, and is too pious to say “God be with us” whenever he sneezes, for fear of being irreverent rather than devout.’

  ‘Grrrr,’ said Tomkins.

  Molly brought them into the living room.

  ‘Give me a few minutes and I will have a cup of tea
  for you,’ she promised. ‘Sit here by a window and watch the sea and seagulls.’

  scaoil	Loose(n), release, discharge
  eagla	fear	f
  cráifeach	Religious; pious, devout
  easurramach	Irreverent, disrespectful; undutiful, disobedient
  deabhóideach	Devout, devotional
  farraige	sea	f
  faoileán	seagull
  geall	pledge, promise	v & m

• Bhí a chuid scadán, fillte i nuachtán, ina ghlaic ag an Athair Pádraig agus iad á bhfógairt féin lena gcumhracht shainiúil féin, ach fágadh aige iad. Chraith se a cheann go brónach.“Ardaigh an brat den gcófra gloine sin. Féach na clocha,’ ar seisean.Thóg Abraham lionsa méadaithe as a phóca.‘Níl ceann ar bith ar leith ann gur fiú cianóg é. Seachas . . .’

  ‘Cad tá agat?’

  ‘Féach air seo!’

  
  ‘Níl aon chuma air.’

  His herring, wrapped in newspaper, Father Patrick had in his grasp, proclaiming themselves with their own distinctive fragrance, but they were left by him. He shook his head sadly.

  ‘Lift the lid off that glass cabinet. Look at the stones,’ he said.

  Abraham took a magnifying glass out of his pocket.

  ‘There is no one in particular that is worth a bit. Apart from . . .’

  ‘What do you have?’

  ‘Look at this!’

  ‘It doesn’t look like much.’

  scadán	herring
  cumhracht	Fragrance; sweetness, perfume; Purity, freshness; Sappiness; juiciness.	f
  fógairt	Call; proclamation, declaration; Warning; summons, order; proscription, threat	f
  sainiúil	Specific; characteristic, distinctive; Specially good, special
  craith = croith	shake	v
  brónach	Sorrowful
  lionsa	lens	m
  méadaigh	Increase, multiply; enlarge, augment; grow bigger
  cianóg	Small coin, mite	f

• ‘Níl . . . ach dá ndeanfaí[cond aut] é a ghearradh i gceart … Ní ceann de chlocha móra an domhain a bheidh ann … ach bheadh luach an tí seo ann.’
  ‘Moladh go deo le Dia. Ní bheidh cabáistí sa ghairdín tosaigh aici arís. Mura mbéarfaimid ar an ngarlach anocht, Abraham, deinim amach gur fearr go rachfá ar lóistin chuig Miss Minnows go ceann cupla lá – d’fheilfeadh mac léinn diagachta go breá di – agus an teach seo a bhrath.’

  ‘No. . . but if it were cut properly . . . It will not be one of the great stones of the world . . . but the value of this house would be there.’

  ‘Praise be to God forever. She will never have cabbages in the front garden again. If we do not catch the tramp tonight, Abraham, I find that you would best to go to Miss Minnows’s lodgings for a few days – a theological student would be fine with her – and spy on this house.’

  value

  luach	m
  feil	Suit; fit, become	v
  brath	Perception, feeling; spying, betrayal; Expectation, intention	m

• Sula bhféadfadh Abraham aon ghearán a dheanamh, chuala siad Molly chucu. Dhruid an Duinníneach barr an chófra gloine. Shuigh siad go pras. Rug sí tae agus brioscaí úra isteach léi ar thrádaire airgid. Faoin am seo, bhí na scadáin sactha síos ina phóca ag an Duinníneach. Thuig sé nach ndéanfaí iad a chócaráil do an lá sin. Labhair Molly go béasach leo ach chraith a lámh agus í ag doirteadh tae. Chuaigh a cuid abairtí ar seachrán. Léim sí as a craiceann nuair a buaileadh[past aut never lenited] cnag ar an doras tosaigh. Cnag trom bagarthach a bhí ann, cnag sainiúil: trí bhuille mhalla, buille singil agus trí thrombhuille eile.Before Abraham could make any complaint, they heard Molly [coming] toward them. Dineen closed the top of the glass cabinet. They sat down quickly. She brought tea and fresh biscuits with her on a silver tray. By this time, the herring had been shoved down in his pocket by Dineen. He realized that they would not be cooked that day. Molly spoke politely to them but her hand shook as she poured tea. Some of her sentences were wandering. She jumped out of her skin when there was a knock on the front door. It was a heavy menacing knock, a distinctive knock: three slow beats, a single beat and three other heavy beats.
  

  pras	quick, prompt
  úr	fresh
  tráidire	tray	m
  sactha	packed, thrust, shoved
  béasach
  seachrán	Wandering, straying
  bagarthach = bagrach	Threatening, menacing
  sainiúil	Specific; characteristic, distinctive; Specially good, special
  mall	slow

• ‘Fear an bhainne, ní foláir!’ ar sise. ‘Gabhaigí mo leithsceal, soicind.’
  

  ‘It must be the milkman!’ she said. ‘Excuse me, a second.’

  ní foláir	it is necessary

Notaí Faoi Scéalta