MS-WU-MSS008-3-50-2

[4754] done, to put him in such a state. [4755] I must have raised my eyebrows. [4756] But
I always raise my eyebrows, they are almost in my hair, my brow is nothing
but wales and furrows. [4757] I understood finally that I did not own the land.
[4758] It was his land. [4759] What was I doing on his land? [4760] If there is one question
I dread, to which I have never been able to invent a satisfactory reply,
it is the question what am I doing.

[4761] And on someone else's land to make
things worse! [4762] And at night! [4763] And in weather not fit for a dog! [4764] But I
did not lose my presence of mind. [4765] It is a vow, I said. [4766] I have a fairly
distinguished voice when I choose. [4767] It must have impressed him. [4768] He unhanded
me. [4769] A pilgrimage, I said, following up my advantage. [4770] He asked me where to.
[4771] He was lost. [4772] To the Turdy Madonna, I said.

[4773] The Turdy Madonna? he said, as
if he knew Turdy like the back of his hand and there were no Madonna in the
place. ^{[⁁]length and breadth of it.} [4774] But where is the place in which there is no Madonna? [4775] Herself, I
said. [4776] The black one? he said, to try me. [4777] She is not black that I know
of, I said. [4778] Another would have lost countenance. [4779] Not I. [4780] I knew them
my yokels and their weak points.

[4781] You'll never get there, he said. [4782] It's
thanks to her I lost my infant boy, I said, and kept his mamma. [4783] Such
sentiments could not fail to please a cattle breeder. [4784] Had he but know!ⁿ!
[4785] I told him more fully what alas had never happened. [4786] Not that I miss
Ninette. [4787] But she, at least, who knows, in any case, yes, a pity, no
matter.

[4788] She is the Madonna of pregnant women, I said, of pregnant married
women, and I have vowed to drag myself miserably to her niche, and thank
her. [4789] This incident gives but a feeble idea of my ability, even at this
late period. [4790] But I had gone a little too far, for the vicious look came
back into his eye. [4791] May I ask you a favour, I said, God will reward you.
[4792] I added, God sent you to me, this evening. [4793] Humbly to ask a favour of
people who are on the point of knocking your brains out sometimes produces