THE HERON 
Cornelius Geoghegan with the full extent of 
his vocabulary, threw out dark hints of further 
vengeance, and finally flung the porridge pot 
at the messenger. Mr. Geoghegan believed 
that his personal safety was threatened, and 
evicted his rebellious tenant. Thus Andy went 
to live in a one-roomed cottage on the Gap 
under Slieve Corrig. 
It was a grey autumn day when he left Ballon- 
garry. The Quarry Pool was full of water after 
the rain, and as he went by a big blue heron 
swung up with a shriek. The water dripped 
through the leafless trees in the woods, and the 
strong wet smell of fungoid things hung over 
everything. As he walked after the jolting 
donkey-cart which contained his few pieces of 
furniture Andy's heart was black within him. 
On the high road, Geoghegan's new Mercedes 
panted and hooted up the hill behind him. 
Andy feigned deafness, and took a dreary 
pleasure in obliging it to slow down to pass 
him. He went by with averted head, and 
scowled when the mud from its wheels splashed 
him. 
The new cabin was mudwalled and draughty. 
He crouched over a smoky fire and listened to 
the wind singing chilly songs through the 
chinks. Before he turned into bed, he looked 
out to the west ; silhouetted against the sky, 
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