hts.
There are things in that paper I'd like to be saying. _(He takes a
newspaper out of his pocket and goes to room right)_

ELLEN
_(to Sally, who has been watching Cornelius)_ Tell me, Sally,
are they always that busy in your house? Is your father as harsh as
they say?

SALLY
Father 'ud keep us all working. He's a powerful great man.

ELLEN
Matt will be bringing a wife into the house soon from all I hear.
How would your father treat her?

SALLY
Oh, he'd have his way, and she'd have her way, I suppose.

ELLEN
And do you think your father will let him marry?

SALLY
Sure he must if the boy likes.

ELLEN
What would he say if Matt married a girl without a fortune?

SALLY
In my mother's country there are lots of girls with fortunes
that Matt could have.

ELLEN
Supposing he wanted a girl that had no fortune?

SALLY
Oh, I suppose father would give in in the end. It wouldn't be
clay against flint when Matt and father would be to it.

ELLEN
You're a good girl, Sally. If I was Matt's wife, do you think
you'd be fond of me?

SALLY
I'd like you as well as another, Ellen.

_Cornelius comes down from room_.

CORNELIUS
I suppose they'll be here soon.

ELLEN
I have tea ready for them.

SALLY
Who's coming at all?

CORNELIUS
Some of the boys and girls that are for America. They are going
to Gilroy's to-night, and are leaving from that in the morning.
They are coming in to see Ellen on their way down.

SALLY
There are a good many going this flight. The land never
troubles them in America, and they can wear fine clothes, and be as
free as the larks over the bogs. It's a wonder you never thought of
going, Ellen.

ELLEN
Father wouldn't like me to be far from him, and so I went in
for the school instead.

SALLY
And now you've got a fine boy like Matt. It was lucky for you
to be staying here.

ELLEN
Hush, Sally.

SALLY
Oh, I knew all about it before you talked to me at all. Matt
always goes to the place where he thinks you'd be.

ELLEN
_(rising)_ I'll be in the room when the girls come, Cornelius.

_She goes into room left_.

SALLY
_(going to Cornelius)_ God help us, but she's the silent
creature. Isn't it a wonder she's not filled with talk of him after
seeing him to-day? But Ellen's right. We shouldn't be talking about
men, nor thinking about them either; and that's the way to keep them
on our hands on the long run. I'll be going myself.

_She goes towards door_.

CORNELIUS