Duinnín i Lios Dúin Bhearna (tuilleadh)

Dineen in Lisdoonvarna (continued)

• ‘Dódó, a Bhatson. An féidir leat a bhfuil scríofa faoi a Iéamh?”

  ‘J.T. Tavistock,‘ arsa Bhatson.

  “Tavistock ainm an tiarna talún,’ arsa Greta.

  ‘Is dócha gur chuir an tiarna talún troscán éigin agus maisiúcháin áirithe ar fail don tionónta,’ arsa Bhatson.

  ‘Dodo, Watson. Can you read what is written about it?’

  ‘J.T. Tavistock,’ said Watson.

  ‘Tavistock is the name of the landlord,’ said Greta.

  ‘The landlord probably made some furniture and certain decorations available to the tenant,’ said Watson.

  troscán	furniture	m
  maisiúchán	Adornment, decoration, ornamentation	m
  áirithe	Certainty, surety; Certain quantity; Allotment, portion; Certain, particular	f, adj

• ‘Tá cur amach áirithe agam ar shaothar Tavistock,’ arsa an Duinníneach. ‘Nuair a bhíos fós im chónaí in ord rialta fuaireas, mar jab, áireamh a dhéanamh ar throscán tí a fágadh le huacht ag an ord. I measc an mhangarae, bhí saothar de chuid Jeremiah T. Tavistock agus bhí orm taighde áirithe a dhéanamh air. Ghnóthaigh Jeremiah T. Tavistock duaiseanna i Great Exhibition 1851, agus moladh ón mBanrion Victoria, as dhá shaothar da chuid. Duais do “Orang-utang in Repose” ~ craiceann pulctha ~ agus duais do dhódó nuachumtha ar chreatlán turcaí le cleití péacóige. Táim réastúnta cinnte gur saothar le Jeremiah, a cailleadh sa bhliain 1852, atá sa seomra seo agus nach bhfuil aon chraobh sealgaireachta ón Afraic ann. An bhfaca éinne agaibh Mr. Squiers riamh?”

  ‘I have some reports of Tavistock’s work,’ said Dineen. ‘When I was still in a regular order, as a job, to count household furniture left by will by the order. Among the junk there was a work by Jeremiah T. Tavistock and I had to do some research on it. Jeremiah T. Tavistock won prizes in the Great Exhibition of 1851, and praise from Queen Victoria, for two of his works. A prize for “Orang-utang in Repose” — stuffed skin — and a prize for a newly invented dodo on a turkey skeleton with peacock feathers. I am reasonably sure that it is the work of Jeremiah, who died 1852, is in this room and there is no hunting trophy from Africa. Have any of you ever seen Mr. Squires?’

  saothar	Work, labour; toil, exertion; stress, effort	m
  áireamh	Count(ing), enumeration; census; arithmetic; number	m
  uacht	Will, testament	f
  mangarae	Huckster’s wares; assorted collection; welter, junk	m
  taighde	research	m
  Gnóthaigh	Work, labor; Win, gain; earn, achieve
  duais	Gift, reward, prize
  craiceann	skin	m
  pulc	Stuff, gorge	v
  cumtha	Shapely, comely; invented
  creat	Frame; shape, appearance	m
  creatlach	Framework, skeleton	f
  cleite	feather	m
  sealgaireacht	(Act of) hunting; {Act of) searching, foraging.	f

• Ni raibh aon chur amach ag éinne ar Mr. Squiers.

  ‘Sílim féin go bhfuil sé marbh le fada,’ arsa Mrs. Brown. ‘Fiú dá mbeadh duine uasal i bhfad as baile, bheifeá ag súil go dtiocfadh postas éigin chuige. Níor tháinig aon ní beo riamh chuig Mr. Squiers. Féachaim sa bhosca poist ó am go chéile.’

  ‘An agatsa amháin atá eochair an árasáin seo agus Mr. Squiers as baile?”

  No one had a report of Mr. Squiers.

  ‘I myself think he’s been dead for a long time,’ said Mrs. Brown. ‘Even if a gentleman was far from town, you would expect some mail to arrive. No living thing ever came to Mr. Squiers. I look in the mailbox from time to time.’

  ‘Are you the only one who has the key to this apartment when Mr. Squires is out of town? ‘

• ‘Tá ceann ag Mrs. Green freisin. Tagaimse anseo dhá mhaidin sa tseachtain agus tagann sise dhá mhaidin eile. Níor chasas riamh léi, ón uair nach mbímid ag obair ar na laethanta céanna, ach déarfaidh mé an méid seo: ní haon oibri í. Lena[?] chois sin, déanann sí buanaíocht ar an áit. Cé gur leasc liom
  [d.l. 207]
  bean oibre eile a ghearan, gheibhim deacair uaireanta gan rudaí áirithe a chur ar shuile Mr. Hugo…”
  

  ‘Mrs. Green has one as well. I come here two mornings a week and she comes two other mornings. Never met her, since we don’t work on the same days, but I will say this: She is no worker. Along with that, she makes herself at home there. Although I am reluctant to complain about another working woman, I sometimes find it difficult not to bring certain things to the eyes of Mr. Hugo.’

  le cois	along with
  buan-	Permanent, perpetual; fixed.
  aíocht	Hospitality; lodging (for a night)	f
  leasc	Lazy, indolent; slow, sluggish; Loath, reluctant; diffident

• “Mr. Hugo?”

  “An gníomhaire atá ag Mrs. Tavistock.’

  ‘An tiarna talún, Mrs, Tavistsock,’ arsa an Duinníneach, ‘cén saghas duine í?”

  “Ní fhaca mise riamh í,’ arsa Mrs. Brown.

  “Bheadh sí an-chríonna ar fad dá mb’í baintreach Jeremiah í’

  ‘Ach b’é Mr. George Tavistock, mac le Heremiah, an tiarna talún,’ arsa Greta. ‘Cailleadh é dhá bhliain ó shin. Bheadh an daichead aige. Is í a bhean siúd a fuair an teach le huacht.’

  “Bhatson,’ arsa an Duinníneach, ‘ar cheistigh tusa Mrs. Tavistock agus tú i mbun bleachtaireachta?”

  ‘Mr. Hugo?’

  ‘Mrs. Tavistock’s agent.’

  ‘The landlady, Mrs Tavistock,’ said Dineen, ‘what kind of a person is she?’

  ‘I have never seen her,’ said Mrs. Brown.

  ‘She would have been very prudent if she had been Jeremiah’s widow’

  ‘But Mr. George Tavistock, son of Jeremiah, was the landlord,’ said Greta. ‘He died two years ago. He would have been 40. It is his wife who received the house by will.’

  ‘Watson,’ said Dineen, ‘did you question Mrs. Tavistock in your detective work?’

  gníomhaire	agent	m
  críonna	wise, prudent

• “Níor airíos gur ghá.”

  ‘Cad ba chúis bháis do George Tavistock?’

  “Timpist. Fuair sé bás de thimpist,’ arsa Greta.

  “Bhí fiosrú ann ag an am agus bhí tuairisc sna nuachtáin. Is cuimhin liom léamh faoi,’ arsa Bhatson. ‘Bhí arsanaic in úsáid aige gan a bheith cúramach go leor i dtaobh a láimhseála. Beidh na sonraí ag de Hoilm. Mar is eol duit, coinníonn sé comhad le nithe mar sin ann.”

  Chonaic Mrs, Brown smál ar an urlár cois teallaigh.

  ‘Súiche!’ ar sise, agus chuimil sí seile de lena barraicín. ‘Tagann clocha sneachta le simné agus leánn siad dubh.’

  “Bhfuil eochair an árasáin seo ag Dr. Burr?”

  ‘I did not feel the need.’

  ‘What was the cause of George Tavistock’s death?’

  ‘An accident. He died by accident,’ said Greta.

  ‘There was an inquiry at the time and there was a report in the newspapers. I remember reading about it,’ said Watson. ‘He had used arsenic without being careful enough in handling it. Holmes will have the details. As you know, he keeps a file with things like that.’

  Mrs. Brown saw a stain on the floor beside the fireplace.

  ‘Soot, she said.’ She rubbed saliva off it with her toe. ‘Hailstones come by the chimney and melt black.’

  ‘Does Dr. Burr have a key to this apartment?’

  f

  airigh	Perceive, sense; feel; hear
  fiosrú	inquiry	m
  láimhseáil1	Management, handling
  sonra	Characteristic; particular, detail	m
  comhad	cover, protection, keeping; file	m
  smál	stain, blot, smudge	m
  teallach	fireplace, hearth	m
  Súiche	Soot	m
  cuimil	Rub; stroke, fondle; wipe
  seile	Spit, spittle; saliva	f
  leáigh	melt	v

• ‘Ar ndóigh, níl. Níl aon chúis go mbeadh. Tamall ó shin, agus é pósta ar Louisa, chuaigh sé thar doras agus mé ag obair istigh. Nuair a chonaic sé na hainmhithe ~ an tíogar sin atá mar ruga urláir, ach go háirithe — d’impigh sé orm gan an doras a fhágáil ar oscailt riamh aris agus mé ag obair istigh. “Dá bhfeicfeadh Louisa a bhfuil anseo, ní chodlódh sí oiche eile sa teach. [d.l. 208] Néaróga, Mrs. Brown, néaróga,” ar seisean.’

  D’fhliuch sí cúinne a naprún ina béal agus thug sí cuimilt do shuil chrogaill. Bhí an crogall féin ina tholg.

  ‘Of course not. There would be no reason for that. A while back, when he was married to Louisa, he passed the door while I was working inside. When he saw the animals — that tiger as a floor rug especially — he begged me never to leave the door open again while I was working inside. If Louisa saw what was here, she would not sleep another night in the house. Nerves, Mrs. Brown, nerves,

  She wet the corner of her apron in her mouth and gave a rub to the eye of a crocodile. The crocodile itself was a couch.

  impigh	entreat, supplicate, beg
  néaróg	nerve	f
  naprún	apron	m
  crogall	crocodile	m

• Dúirt tú, anois beag, ndeineann Mrs. Green buanaíocht san áit,’ arsa an Duinníneach. ‘Conas san?”

  ‘Tá’s agam go nglacann sí sos ar an leaba istigh. Rud é sin a d’fhéadfadh éinne a dhéanamh …’

  “Tuigim sin,’ arsa an Duinníneach, ‘lá te, an obair déanta, ceathrú huaire le cur isteach roimh dhul abhaile, tinneas cinn ar dhuine, b’théidir..”

  “Ach ní dhéanfainnse todóg de chuid an Dr. Burr a sciobadh agus é a chaitheamh agus mé ag glacadh sosa. D’aimsios luaithreach ar an urlár agus ní mé a chuir ann é.’
  

  ‘You said, just now, she takes liberties in the place,’ said Dineen. ‘How so?

  ‘I know she takes a break on the bed inside. That is something anyone could do’

  ‘I understand that,’ said Dineen, ‘hot day, work done, quarter hour to put in before going home, someone has a headache, perhaps…’

  ‘But I wouldn’t grab one of Dr. Burr’s cigars and smoke it while I take a break. I found ashes on the floor and I didn’t put them there.’

  anois beag	just now
  buan-	Permanent, perpetual; fixed.
  aíocht	Hospitality; lodging (for a night)	f
  sos	Rest, cessation; pause, interval; respite	m
  todóg	cigar	f
  sciobadh	snatch, grab	m
  luaithreach	ashes, dust	m

• ‘Is mór idir sos a ghlacadh go discréideach agus sos a ghlacadh chun todóga goidte a chaitheamh,’ arsa an Duinníneach go sollúnta. ‘Beidh orm casadh le Mrs. Green.”

  ‘N’fheadar cé bhfaighfeá í,’ a Athair,’ arsa Greta. ‘Scanraigh sí roimh na póilíní, ní foláir. Nior tháinig sí in aice an tí ón uair gur cailleadh Mrs. Philomena. Níl againn anois ach Mrs. Brown.’

  “Aithním ar na rugaí agus na cairpéadai go ndeineann tú an-chúram díobh,’ arsa an Duinníneach chun an díobháil a bhaint as a raibh le rá aige, ‘ach feicim fionnadh bán ansin ar an súsa. Madra beag bán a bhí ag Mrs. Philomena, ní foláir?”

  ‘There is a big difference between taking a break discreetly and taking a break to smoke stolen cigars,’ said Dineen solemnly. ‘I will have to meet Mrs. Green.’

  ‘I wonder where you would find her , Father,’ said Greta. ‘Must be scared of the police. She has not come near the house since Mrs. Philomena died. We now only have Mrs. Brown.’

  ‘I can tell by the rugs and carpets that you take extra care of them,’ said Dineen to remove the injury from what he had to say, ‘but I see white fur there on the blanket. Must be from the small white dog Mrs. Philomena had.’

  discréideach	discreet
  sollúnta	solemn
  Scanraigh	Become scattered; break asunder; Frighten; take fright
  díobháil	Loss, deprivation, want; Injury, harm, damage	f
  súsa	Covering, rug, blanket

• “Taffy? Ruidín beag gránna bán a bhíodh i gcónai ag sceitheadh fionnaidh. Bhíodh cead aige rith ar fud an tí.’

  ‘Briseadh croí Mrs, Philomena nuair a goideadh é,’ arsa Greta. ‘B’shin a thug uirthi i féin a mhartrú ar an staighre, nó b’shin é a dúradh.’

  ‘Nior chreid tú an scéal sin, a Ghreta?’

  “Bhí sí ag súil go dtiocfadh nóta ag éileamh airgid. Togadh [d.l. 209]
  Fífí, púdal na Cuntaoise Flimore, faoi thrí. Bhí ar an gCuntaois cupla péarla a dhíol an triú huair, i ngan fhios dá céile, chun íoc as. Bhí Philomena ceanúil ar Taffy, cinnte, ach bhí sí doirte ar an Dr. Burr. Ní raibh uaithi ach breith ar a sláinte go…’

  ‘Taffy? An ugly little white thing that was always shedding fur. He used to be allowed to run all over the house’

  ‘Mrs, Philomena’s heart was broken when he was stolen,’ said Greta. ‘That was what made her kill herself on the stairs, or that is what was said. ‘

  ‘You didn’t believe that story, Greta?’

  ‘She was expecting a note to come demanding money. Fifi, Countess Flimore’s poodle, was taken three times. The Countess had to sell a pair of pearls the third time, without her husband’s knowledge, to pay for it. Philomena was fond of Taffy, sure, but she was devoted to Dr. Burr. She only wanted to hold onto her health until…’

  gránna	ugly
  martraigh	Martyr; Cripple, maim, disable	v vnmartrú
  éileamh	claim, demand	m
  Faoi thrí
  ceanúil	Loving, affectionate

• Dheargaigh Greta agus theip na focail uirthi. Sméid an Duinníneach a cheann go tuisceanach.

  ‘Pósadh gan póga a bhí ann,’ ar seisean. “Tá sé sin ag teacht lem léamh ar an scéal.”

  ‘Ní dheachaigh siad ar mhí na meala go fóill. Bhí siad ag tnuth le turas chun na hlodaile nuair a bheadh sise maith go leor chuige, dar leis na dochtúirí. Tá a fhios agam nach ndéanfadh sí aon rud a chuirfeadh a slainte i mbaol.’

  ‘Ar phósadh den chineál céanna pósadh Burr agus Louisa?’

  ‘Sílim é.’

  ‘Ba mhaith liom an t-áiléar a fheiscint anois,’ arsa an Duinníneach.

  Greta reddened and words failed her. Dineen nodded his head thoughtfully

  ‘It was a marriage without kisses,’ he said. ‘That is how I read the story.’

  ‘They hadn’t gone on their honeymoon yet. They were expecting a trip to Italy when she would be well enough for it, according to the doctors. I know she wouldn’t do anything to put her health in danger.’

  ‘Were Burr and Louisa married in the same way?’

  ‘I think so.’

  ‘I would like to see the attic now,’ said Dineen.

  Sméid	Wink, nod, beckon; sign, signal (with movement of head)	v
  tuisceanach	Understanding; wise, discerning; thoughtful, considerate

• Chuaigh Mrs. Brown ina dteannta agus d’fhág sí doras Mr. Squiers ar leathadh.

  ‘Níl brídeog ar bith le scanrú, faoi lathair,’ ar sise nuair a thug an Dr. Bhatson féachaint súl air.

  Ag barr an tí ar fad, bhí seomra Ghreta agus an t-áiléar.

  ‘Dreapadh an staighre seo a thug bás Mrs. Philomena, de réir tuairisce,’ arsa O Duinnin.

  Mrs. Brown went along with them and she left Mr. Squiers’ door wide open.

  ‘This is no bride to be scared, at present,’ she said when Dr. Watson looked at it.

  At the very top of the house, was Greta’s room and the attic

  ‘Climbing of this staircase caused the death of Mrs. Philomena, according to the report,’ said Dineen.

  dreapadh	Climbing, climb	m

• ‘Bhi siad á rá gur dhein sí d’aon ghnó é; dreapadh agus tuirlingt arís agus arís eile gur mharaigh sí i féin. Dia ár sábháil!’

  “Más é sin an rún a bhí aici,’ arsa an Duinníneach, ‘ní raibh rogha aici, ar ndóigh, ach an plean a chur i gcrích agus sibh ar fad amuigh. Mar sin ní haon iontas é gur cailleadh í ag an tráth céanna den lá le Louisa Burr.’

  ‘Sin a dúras-sa leis[??] na póilíní’, arsa Greta go sásta.

  Bhí trí dhoras ag ceann an staighre. [d.l. 210]

  ‘They were saying that she did it on purpose; climbing and descending again and again that she killed herself. God save us!

  ‘If that was her intention,’ said Dineen, ‘she had no choice, of course, but to accomplish the plan while all of you were out. So it’s no surprise that she died at the same time of day as Louisa Burr.

  ‘That’s what I told the police said,’ Greta said happily.

  There were three doors at the head of the stairs.

• ‘Sin doras an áiléir,’ arsa Greta. ‘Gheobhaidh mé coinnle ón seomra agamsa, anseo ar dheis, ach níl aon ní le feiscint ann, i ndáiríre.’

  ‘Cad tá taobh thiar den doras seo?’ arsa an Duinníneach.

  D’oscail Greta é.

  ‘Staighre lucht freastail. Síos chun na cistine.’

  Tharla cleitearnach mhór nuair a thug siad na soilse isteach san áiléar agus las súilíni dearga ar na fraitheacha.
  

  ‘That is the attic door,’ said Greta. ‘I’ll get candles from my room, here on the right, but there’s nothing to see there, really.’

  ‘What is on the far side of this door?’ said Dineen.

  Greta opened it.

  ‘Stairs for the servants. Down to the kitchen.’

  There was a big fluttering when they brought the lights into the attic and lit little red eyes on the rafters.

  coinneal	candle	f pl coinnle
  cleitearnach	(Act of) fluttering (bird); hovering (person0	f
  súilín	Eyelet; bead, bubble, globule	m pl súilíni
  fraigh	(Interior of) wall; rafters, roof	f pl fraitheacha

• ‘Chuireadh Taffy, madra Mrs. Philomena, an ruaig ar na colúir dúinn,’ a mhínigh Greta. Ón uair gur goideadh é, táid ag cruinniú isteach trí pholl an uisce agus trí na silteáin agus tá siad ag neadú sna fraitheacha.’

  ‘Cad tá taobh thiar den doras sin?’

  D’oscail Greta é — ‘Umar uisce.”

  “An doras thall?”

  ‘Slí isteach sa simléir,’ arsa Greta. ‘Fadó, cuirtí páiste síos ansin chun an simléir a ghlanadh.”

  ‘Taffy, Mrs. Philomena’s dog, used to chase the pigeons for us,’ Greta explained. ‘Since he was stolen, they are gathering in through the water hole and through the drains and they are nesting in the rafters.

  ‘What is on the other side of that door?’

  Greta opened it — ‘A water tank.’

  ‘The door over there?’

  ‘A way into the chimney,’ said Greta. ‘Long ago, children used to be sent down there to clean the chimney.’

  ruaig	chase, rout	f, v
  colúr	pigeon	m gs npl colúir
  mínigh	Smooth, polish; Make gentle, assuage, quiet; Explain, expound, interpret
  silteán	Small drain or channel; rivulet, rill	m gs npl silteáin
  umar	trough	m

• Chuir an Duinníneach a cheann agus a ghuailli trín gcomhla.

  ‘Go bhfóire Dia orainn,’ ar seisean, ‘na páistí bochta! … Cathain ar glanadh an simné seo?’ a d’fhiafraigh sé de Ghreta.

  ‘Roimh an séasúr, anuraidh. Tiocfaidh fear a ghlanta lá ar bith feasta.”

  ‘Rachaimid síos chun na cistine leat anois, a bhean chóir,’ arsa an Duinníneach le Greta, ‘go dtabharfaidh tú muigín tae duínn.’

  Dineen put his head and shoulder through the shutter.

  ‘God help us,’ he said, ‘the poor children! … When was this chimney cleaned?’

  ‘Before the season, last year. A cleaning man will come any day now.

  ‘We will go down to the kitchen with you now, good woman,’ said Dineen to Greta, ‘and you’ll bring us a mug of tea.’ .

  comhla	door-leaf; shutter; valve	f
  cathain	when	interr.
  feasta	From now on, henceforth

• Rinne Mrs. Brown iarracht tarraingt siar. Pé nósanna aite a bheadh ag an bpápaire beag — a raibh dealramh aige leis an Órang-útan i seomra Mr. Squiers ~ ba dhuine uasal an Dochtúir agus nior chóir dé tae a ól sa chistin leis na seirbhísigh.

  Ach sháraigh an Duinníneach uirthi agus sméid an Dochtúir uirthi suí.
  [d.l. 211]

  Mrs. Brown tried to withdraw. Whatever strange habits the little papist would have — who resembled the Orangutan in Mr. Squier’s room ~ the Doctor was a gentleman and should not drink tea in the kitchen with the servants.

  But Dineen got the better of her and the Doctor motioned for her to sit.

  nós	Custom; manner, style	m pl nósanna
  aite	Pleasant, likeable; Fine, excellent; Comical; queer
  pápaire	papist	m
  sáraigh	Violate; Transgress, infringe; Thwart, frustrate; Overcome a difficulty
  sméid	Wink, nod, beckon; sign, signal (with movement of head)

• ‘Ar bhraith ceachtar agaibh riamh,’ arsa an Duinníneach agus é ag féachaint ar Ghreta agus Mrs. Brown, ‘go raibh taibhse sa teach seo?”

  Lig Bhatson gnúsacht as le mífhoighid. Bhí sé ar mire leis féin gur iarr sé cúnamh ar an Duinníneach riamh. Ainneoin a mheas ar a chara, de Hoilm, bhí Bhatson drochamhrasach as a fhéith grinn. B’fhéidir gur le háilteoireacht a chuir sé Duinnín in aithne dócha mar bhleachtaire.

  ‘Níor bhraith mé aon rud sa teach nach bhfuil sa Bhiobla Naofa,’ arsa Mrs. Brown.

  ‘Have either of you ever felt,’ said Dineen as he looked at Greta and Mrs. Brown, ‘that there was a ghost in this house?’

  Watson grunted with impatience. He was mad with himself that he ever asked Dineen for help. In spite of his respect for his friend, Holmes, Watson was suspicious of his sense of humor. Perhaps he introduced Dineen to joking, probably as a detective.

  ‘I have not felt anything in the house that is not in the Holy Bible,’ said Mrs. Brown.

  ceachtar	Either, one or other of two; (with neg.) neither
  gnúsacht	grunt	f
  mífhoighne	impatience	f4
  mire	Quickness, rapidity; spiritedness, ardour. (b) Madness, frenzy	f
  Ainneoin	notwithstanding, in spite of
  drochamhras	Misgiving, distrust	m
  amhrasach	suspicious
  féith	Sinew; muscle; vein; Streak, strain, natural bent, talent	f
  greann	Fun, humour; mirth, pleasantry; joking, jesting	m gs grinn
  áilteoireacht	(Act of) tricking, joking	f

• ‘Fágann san scóip go leor again,’ arsa an Duinníneach, ‘ach, ar ndóigh, ní fheicfeása an taibhse, Mrs. Brown. Ní thaibhseodh sé agus tusa anseo, mura bhfuil breall orm. An bhfaca tusa taibhse sa teach, a Ghreta?”

  Chraith sí a ceann, ach bhí éiginnteacht le léamh ar a súile.

  ‘Ní taibhse ar nós neacha oíche Shamhna atá i gceist agam ach — cuirim i gcás — fuaim nuair nach bhfuil daoine thart . . .

  ‘.., Seanteach é,’ arsa Bhatson.

  ‘Rudaí a bhogann uathu féin, d’réir dealraimh?”
  

  ‘That leaves plenty of scope for us,’ said Dineen, ‘But, of course, you won’t see the ghost, Mrs. Brown. He wouldn’t appear with you here, unless I am a fool. Have you seen a ghost in the house, Greta?’

  She shook her head, but there was uncertainty to read in her eyes.

  ‘I don’t mean a ghost like the spirits of Halloween but – I suggest – a sound when people are not around. . .’

  ‘It’s an old house,’ said Watson

  ‘Things that seem to move by themselves, apparently?’

  scóip	scope; aim, ambition; eagerness; hurry; joy, elation, high spirits	f
  taibhsigh	loom; appear, seem
  breall	Blemish, defect; Rag, clout; Blunderer, fool	f
  éiginnteacht	Uncertainty, indefiniteness; vagueness, ambiguity; indecision	f
  neach	Being; Person, one; Incorporeal, mysterious, being; spirit	neacha

• ‘Shíleas cúpla uair gur chuala mé coiscéimeanna istoíche,’ arsa Greta. ‘Ón uair gur imigh Dr. Burr as baile ní fhanaim féin sa teach istoiche. Té cead faighte agam fanacht amuigh, lem dheirfiúr. Nílim piseogach ach…

  ‘Dúras leat go mbíonn an glantóir eile, Mrs. Green, ag bogadh rudai thart agus ag buanaíocht ar an árasán thuas staighre. B’fhéidir nach í atá á dhéanamh in aon chor, ach taibhse,’ arsa Mrs. Brown.

  Dhein sí gáire agus ghaibh sí a leithscéal le Bhatson laithreach.
  ”Bhatson, a chara, ní cóir duit na mná uaisle seo a bhodhradh a thuilleadh,’ arsa an Duinníneach go hobann.
  [d.l. 212]

  ‘I thought a few times that I heard footsteps in the night,’ said Greta. ‘Ever since Dr. Burr left town I don’t stay in the house at night. I have gotten permission to stay outside, with my sister. I’m not superstitious, but…

  ‘You said the other cleaner, Mrs. Green is moving things around and staying in the upstairs apartment. Perhaps it’s not her doing it at all, but a ghost,’ said Mrs. Brown.

  She laughed and immediately accepted Watson’s apology.

  ‘Watson, my friend, you mustn’t bother these ladies any more,’ Dineen said suddenly.

  istoíche	By/at night
  piseogach	Pertaining to, practising, charms or spells; Superstitious.
  gabh	Take, Take hold of, catch; accept
  bodhraigh	Deafen; bother, annoy
  obann = tobann	sudden

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