from Brian MacConnell. There's
only the patch at the back to be mown, and you could do that yourself.

CONN
You can depend on me for the mowing. I'm going up now, to go
over an oul' tune I have.

ANNE
James Moynihan would come over and stack for us.

CONN
James Moynihan is a decent boy, too.

ANNE
You won't be going out to-night, father?

CONN
Now, how's a man to know what he'll be doing?

ANNE
It leaves me very anxious.

CONN
I'll give you this advice, and it's proper advice to give to a
girl thinking of marrying. Never ask of your menkind where they're
going.

ANNE
The like of that brings bad luck on a house.

CONN
You have too much dead knowledge, and the shut fist never
caught a bird.

ANNE
I only wish you were settled down.

CONN
Sure I am settled down.

ANNE
I can't speak to you, after all.

CONN
You're a good girl, Anne, and he'll be lucky that gets you. And
don't be grieving that you're not bringing James Moynihan a fortune.
You're bringing him the decency of birth and rearing. You're like the
lone pigeon I often think--the pet that doesn't fly, and keeps near
the house.

ANNE
That's the way you always treat me, and I never can talk to you.

CONN
_(at window)_ Hush now, here's the other, your sister Maire.
She's like the wild pigeon of the woods. _(Maire Hourican comes in)_
We were discoursing on affairs, Maire. We won't be bringing Brian
MacConnell here tomorrow; there's only the bit at the back to be mown,
and I'll do that myself.

_Conn Hourican goes into the room right; soon after the fiddle is
heard. Anne goes to the settle, and takes up her knitting. Maire
takes her shawl off, and hangs it on the rack. Maire Hourican is
over twenty. She is tall, and has easy, graceful movements; her
features are fine and clear-cut; the nose is rather blunted, the
mouth firm. Her gaze is direct and clear. She has heavy auburn hair,
loose now, and falling. Maire comes down to the table, opens basket,
and takes some flowers from top. She turns to dresser and arranges
some of the flowers in a jar_.

MAIRE
We'd have no right to take another day from Brian. And when
there's no one here to-morrow, you and me could draw some of the turf.

ANNE
Your hair is loose, Maire.

_Maire goes to the mirror and fixes her hair_.

MAIRE
The wind blew it about me, and then I let it down. I came home
by the long way, just to feel young again with my hair about me.

ANNE
And did y