s discounted by his wife as the
malignant and subtle tactics customary to all husbands.
Matters appeared to be thus at a deadlock so far as they were
immediately concerned, and the Philosopher decided that he would lay the
case before Angus Og and implore his protection and assistance on behalf
of the Clann MacMurrachu. He therefore directed the Thin Woman to bake
him two cakes of bread, and set about preparations for a journey.
The Thin Woman baked the cakes, and put them in a bag, and early on the
following morning the Philosopher swung this bag over his shoulder, and
went forth on his quest.
When he came to the edge of the pine wood he halted for a few moments,
not being quite certain of his bearings, and then went forward again in
the direction of Gort na Cloca Mora. It came into his mind as he crossed
the Gort that he ought to call on the Leprecauns and have a talk with
them, but a remembrance of Meehawl MacMurrachu and the troubles under
which he laboured (all directly to be traced to the Leprecauns) hardened
his heart against his neighbours, so that he passed by the yew tree
without any stay. In a short time he came to the rough, heather-clumped
field wherein the children had found Pan, and as he was proceeding up
the hill, he saw Caitilin Ni Murrachu walking a little way in front with
a small vessel in her hand. The she-goat which she had just milked was
bending again to the herbage, and as Caitilin trod lightly in front of
him the Philosopher closed his eyes in virtuous anger and opened them
again in a not unnatural curiosity, for the girl had no clothes on. He
watched her going behind the brush and disappearing in the cleft of the
rock, and his anger, both with her and Pan, mastering him he forsook
the path of prudence which soared to the mountain top, and followed that
leading to the cave. The sound of his feet brought Caitilin out hastily,
but he pushed her by with a harsh word. "Hussy," said he, and he went
into the cave where Pan was.
As he went in he already repented of his harshness and said "The
human body is an aggregation of flesh and sinew, around a central bony
structure. The use of clothing is primarily to protect this organism
from rain and cold, and it may not be regarded as the banner of morality
without danger to this fundamental premise. If a person does not desire
to be so protected who will quarrel with an honourable liberty? Decency
is not clothing but Mind. Morality is behaviour. Vi
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