We 'll walk on quietly , as if we suspected nothing , and when we are passing I 'll give you a shove . If you do n't do YOUR duty then , woe be with you ! '' Well , they walked on easy , and the poor hearts beating in both their breasts ; and though he could see nothing , he heard a faint jingle and trampling and rustling , and at last he got the push that she promised . He spread out his arms , and there was his wife 's waist within them , and he could see her plain ; but such a hullabulloo rose as if there was an earthquake , and he found himself surrounded by horrible-looking things , roaring at him and striving to pull his wife away . But he made the sign of the cross and bid them begone in God 's name , and held his wife as if it was iron his arms were made of . Bedad , in one moment everything was as silent as the grave , and the poor woman lying in a faint in the arms of her husband and her good neighbour . Well , all in good time she was minding her family and her business again ; and I 'll go bail , after the fright she got , she spent more time on her knees , and avoided fairy men all the days of the week , and particularly on Sunday . It is hard to have anything to do with the good people without getting a mark from them . My brave nurse did n't escape no more than another . She was one Thursday at the market of Enniscorthy , when what did she see walking among the tubs of butter but the Dark Man , very hungry-looking , and taking a scoop out of one tub and out of another . ` Oh , sir , ' says she , very foolish , ' I hope your lady is well , and the baby . ' ` Pretty well , thank you , ' says he , rather frightened like . ` How do I look in this new suit ? ' says he , getting to one side of her . ' I ca n't see you plain at all , sir , ' says she . ` Well , now ? ' says he , getting round her back to the other side . ` Musha , indeed , sir , your coat looks no better than a withered dock-leaf . ' ` Maybe , then , ' says he , ` it will be different now , ' and he struck the eye next him with a switch . Friends , she never saw a glimmer after with that one till the day of her death .
` Legendary Fictions XXXXX the Irish Celts , ' by Patrick Kennedy .
after as from in like next of on with within