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the house？ I will not surely。 ｛He takes a drink from his glass
which he has beside him。｝ And it's none of your tea I'm asking
either。
｛He goes on stitching。 Nora makes the tea。｝
MICHEAL
｛After looking at the tramp rather scornfully for a moment。｝
That's a poor coat you have； God help you； and I'm thinking it's
a poor tailor you are with it。
TRAMP
If it's a poor tailor I am； I'm thinking it's a poor herd does be
running back and forward after a little handful of ewes the way I
seen yourself running this day； young fellow； and you coming from
the fair。
｛Nora comes back to the table。｝
NORA
｛To Micheal in a low voice。｝
Let you not mind him at all； Micheal Dara； he has a drop taken
and it's soon he'll be falling asleep。
MICHEAL
It's no lie he's telling； I was destroyed surely。 They were that
wilful they were running off into one man's bit of oats； and
another man's bit of hay； and tumbling into the red bogs till
it's more like a pack of old goats than sheep they were。
Mountain ewes is a queer breed； Nora Burke； and I'm not used to
them at all。
NORA
｛Settling the tea things。｝
There's no one can drive a mountain ewe but the men do be reared
in the Glen Malure； I've heard them say； and above by Rathvanna；
and the Glen Imaal； men the like of Patch Darcy； God spare his
soul； who would walk through five hundred sheep and miss one of
them； and he not reckoning them at all。
MICHEAL
｛Uneasily。｝
Is it the man went queer in his head the year that's gone？
NORA
It is surely。
TRAMP
｛Plaintively。｝
That was a great man； young fellow； a great man I'm telling you。
There was never a lamb from his own ewes he wouldn't know before
it was marked； and he'ld run from this to the city of Dublin and
never catch for his breath。
NORA
｛Turning round quickly。｝
He was a great man surely； stranger； and isn't it a grand thing
when you hear a living man saying a good word of a dead man； and
he mad dying？
TRAMP
It's the truth I'm saying； God spare his soul。
｛He puts the needle under the collar of his coat； and settles
himself to sleep in the chimney…corner。 Nora sits down at the
table； their backs are turned to the bed。｝
MICHEAL
｛Looking at her with a queer look。｝
I heard tell this day； Nora Burke； that it was on the path below
Patch Darcy would be passing up and passing down； and I heard
them say he'ld never past it night or morning without speaking
with yourself。
NORA
｛In a low voice。｝
It was no lie you heard； Micheal Dara。
MICHEAL
I'm thinking it's a power of men you're after knowing if it's in
a lonesome place you live itself。
NORA
｛Giving him his tea。｝
It's in a lonesome place you do have to be talking with some one；
and looking for some one； in the evening of the day； and if it's
a power of men I'm after knowing they were fine men； for I was a
hard child to please； and a hard girl to please ｛she looks at him
a little sternly｝； and it's a hard woman I am to please this day；
Micheal Dara； and it's no lie I'm telling you。
MICHEAL
｛Looking over to see that the tramp is asleep； and then pointing
to the dead man。｝
Was it a hard woman to please you were when you took himself for
your man？
NORA
What way would I live and I an old woman if I didn't marry a man
with a bit of a farm； and cows on it； and sheep on the back
hills？
MICHEAL
｛Considering。｝
That's true； Nora； and maybe it's no fool
you were； for there's good grazing on it； if
it is a lonesome place； and I'm thinking it's
a good sum he's left behind。
28
NORA
｛Taking the stocking with money from her pocket； and putting it
on the table。｝
I do be thinking in the long nights it was a big fool I was that
time； Micheal Dara； for what good is a bit of a farm with cows on
it； and sheep on the back hills； when you do be sitting looking
out from a door the like of that door； and seeing nothing but the
mists rolling down the bog； and the mists again； and they rolling
up the bog； and hearing nothing but the wind crying out in the
bits of broken trees were left from the great storm； and the
streams roaring with the rain。
MICHEAL
｛Looking at her uneasily。｝
What is it ails you； this night； Nora Burke？ I've heard tell it's
the like of that talk you do hear from men； and they after being
a great while on the back hills。
NORA
｛Putting out the money on the table。｝
It's a bad night； and a wild night； Micheal Dara； and isn't it a
great while I am at the foot of the back hills； sitting up here
boiling food for himself； and food for the brood sow； and baking
a cake when the night falls？ ｛She puts up the money； listlessly；
in little piles on the table。｝ Isn't it a long while I am
sitting here in the winter and the summer； and the fine spring；
with the young growing behind me and the old passing； saying to
myself one time； to look on Mary Brien who wasn't that height
｛holding out her hand｝； and I a fine girl growing up； and there
she is now with two children； and another coming on her in three
months or four。 ｛She pauses。｝
MICHEAL
｛Moving over three of the piles。｝
That's three pounds we have now； Nora Burke。
NORA
｛Continuing in the same voice。｝
And saying to myself another time； to look on Peggy Cavanagh； who
had the lightest hand at milking a cow that wouldn't be easy； or
turning a cake； and there she is now walking round on the roads；
or sitting in a dirty old house； with no teeth in her mouth； and
no sense and no more hair than you'ld see on a bit of a hill and
they after burning the furze from it。
MICHEAL
That's five pounds and ten notes； a good sum； surely！ 。 。 。 It's
not that way you'll be talking when you marry a young man； Nora
Burke； and they were saying in the fair my lambs were the best
lambs； and I got a grand price； for I'm no fool now at making a
bargain when my lambs are good。
NORA
What was it you got？
MICHEAL
Twenty pound for the lot； Nora Burke。 。 。 。 We'ld do right to
wait now till himself will be quiet awhile in the Seven Churches；
and then you'll marry me in the chapel of Rathvanna； and I'll
bring the sheep up on the bit of a hill you have on the back
mountain； and we won't have anything we'ld be afeard to let our
minds on when the mist is down。
NORA
｛Pouring him out some whisky。｝
Why would I marry you； Mike Dara？ You'll be getting old and I'll
be getting old； and in a little while I'm telling you； you'll be
sitting up in your bed the way himself was sitting with a
shake in your face； and your teeth falling； and the white hair
sticking out round you like an old bush where sheep do be
leaping a gap。
｛Dan Burke sits up noiselessly from under the sheet； with his
hand to his face。 His white hair is sticking out round his
head。｝
NORA
｛Goes on slowly without hearing him。｝
It's a pitiful thing to be getting old； but it's a queer thing
surely。 It's a queer thing to see an old man sitting up there in
his bed with no teeth in him； and a rough word in his mouth；
and his chin the way it would take the bark from the edge of an
oak board you'ld have building a door。 。 。 。 God forgive me；
Micheal Dara； we'll all be getting old； but it's a queer thing
surely。
MICHEAL
It's too lonesome you are from