oung a child
Loving old age and wisdom?

(BRIDGET _gives her more bread and honey._)

THE CHILD
No more, mother.

MAURTEEN BRUIN
What a small bite! The milk is ready now;
What a small sip!

THE CHILD
Put on my shoes, old mother,
For I would like to dance now I have eaten.
The reeds are dancing by Coolaney lake,
And I would like to dance until the reeds
And the white waves have danced themselves to sleep.

BRIDGET
(_Having put on her shoes, she gets off the old man's knees
and is about to dance, but suddenly sees the crucifix
and shrieks and covers her eyes._)
What is that ugly thing on the black cross?

FATHER HART
You cannot know how naughty your words are!
That is our Blessed Lord!

THE CHILD
Hide it away!

BRIDGET BRUIN
I have begun to be afraid, again!

THE CHILD
Hide it away!

MAURTEEN BRUIN
That would be wickedness!

BRIDGET BRUIN
That would be sacrilege!

THE CHILD
The tortured thing!
Hide it away!

MAURTEEN BRUIN
Her parents are to blame.

FATHER HART
That is the image of the Son of God.

(THE CHILD _puts her arm around his neck and kisses him._)

THE CHILD
Hide it away! Hide it away!

MAURTEEN BRUIN
No! no!

FATHER HART
Because you are so young and little a child
I will go take it down.

THE CHILD
Hide it away,
And cover it out of sight and out of mind.

(FATHER HART _takes it down and carries it towards the
inner room._)

FATHER HART
Since you have come into this barony
I will instruct you in our blessed faith:
Being a clever child you will soon learn.

(_To the others_)

We must be tender with all budding things.
Our Maker let no thought of Calvary
Trouble the morning stars in their first song.

(_Put