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in it as soon as himself； for he had to go round ten miles by the top of the
bay。 （She points to the door）。 Strike down by the head beyond and then
follow on the roadway to the north and east。 ＇Mahon goes abruptly。＇
WIDOW QUIN ＇shouting after him。＇ Let you give him a good vengeance when
you come up with him； but don't put yourself in the power of the law； for it'd
be a poor thing to see a judge in his black cap reading out his sentence on a
civil warrior the like of you。 ＇She swings the door to and looks at Christy；
who is cowering in terror； for a moment； then she bursts into a laugh。＇
WIDOW QUIN。 Well； you're the walking Playboy of the Western World； and that's
the poor man you had divided to his breeches belt。
CHRISTY ＇looking out： then； to her。＇ What'll Pegeen say when she hears
that story？ What'll she be saying to me now？
WIDOW QUIN。 She'll knock the head of you； I'm thinking； and drive you from
the door。 God help her to be taking you for a wonder； and you a little
schemer making up the story you destroyed your da。
CHRISTY ＇turning to the door； nearly speechless with rage； half to
himself。＇ To be letting on he was dead； and coming back to his life； and
following after me like an old weazel tracing a rat； and coming in here laying
desolation between my own self and the fine women of Ireland； and he a kind of
carcase that you'd fling upon the sea。 。 。
WIDOW QUIN ＇more soberly。＇ There's talking for a man's one only son。
CHRISTY ＇breaking out。＇ His one son； is it？ May I meet him with one
tooth and it aching； and one eye to be seeing seven and seventy divils in the
twists of the road； and one old timber leg on him to limp into the scalding
grave。 （Looking out。） There he is now crossing the strands； and that the
Lord God would send a high wave to wash him from the world。
WIDOW QUIN ＇scandalised。＇ Have you no shame？ （putting her hand on his
shoulder and turning him round。） What ails you？ Near crying； is it？
CHRISTY ＇in despair and grief。＇ Amn't I after seeing the love…light of
the star of knowledge shining from her brow； and hearing words would put you
thinking on the holy Brigid speaking to the infant saints； and now she'll be
turning again； and speaking hard words to me； like an old woman with a
spavindy ass she'd have； urging on a hill。
WIDOW QUIN。 There's poetry talk for a girl you'd see itching and scratching；
and she with a stale stink of poteen on her from selling in the shop。
CHRISTY ＇impatiently。＇ It's her like is fitted to be handling merchandise
in the heavens above； and what'll I be doing now； I ask you； and I a kind of
wonder was jilted by the heavens when a day was by。 ＇There is a distant noise
of girls' voices。 Widow Quin looks from window and comes to him； hurriedly。
WIDOW QUIN。 You'll be doing like myself； I'm thinking； when I did destroy my
man； for I'm above many's the day； odd times in great spirits； abroad in the
sunshine； darning a stocking or stitching a shift； and odd times again looking
out on the schooners； hookers； trawlers is sailing the sea； and I thinking on
the gallant hairy fellows are drifting beyond； and myself long years living
alone。
CHRISTY ＇interested。＇ You're like me； so。
WIDOW QUIN。 I am your like； and it's for that I'm taking a fancy to you； and
I with my little houseen above where there'd be myself to tend you； and none
to ask were you a murderer or what at all。
CHRISTY。 And what would I be doing if I left Pegeen？
WIDOW QUIN。 I've nice jobs you could be doing； gathering shells to make a
whitewash for our hut within； building up a little goose…house； or stretching
a new skin on an old curragh I have； and if my hut is far from all sides； it's
there you'll meet the wisest old men； I tell you； at the corner of my wheel；
and it's there yourself and me will have great times whispering and hugging。 。
。 。
VOICES ＇outside； calling far away。＇ Christy！ Christy Mahon！ Christy！
CHRISTY。 Is it Pegeen Mike？
WIDOW QUIN。 It's the young girls； I'm thinking； coming to bring you to the
sports below； and what is it you'll have me to tell them now？
CHRISTY。 Aid me for to win Pegeen。 It's herself only that I'm seeking now。
（Widow Quin gets up and goes to window。） Aid me for to win her； and I'll be
asking God to stretch a hand to you in the hour of death； and lead you short
cuts through the Meadows of Ease； and up the floor of Heaven to the Footstool
of the Virgin's Son。
WIDOW QUIN。 There's praying。
VOICES ＇nearer。＇ Christy！ Christy Mahon！
CHRISTY ＇with agitation。＇ They're coming。 Will you swear to aid and
save me for the love of Christ？
WIDOW QUIN ＇looks at him for a moment。＇ If I aid you； will you swear to
give me a right of way I want； and a mountainy ram； and a load of dung at
Michaelmas； the time that you'll be master here？
CHRISTY。 I will； by the elements and stars of night。
WIDOW QUIN。 Then we'll not say a word of the old fellow； the way Pegeen won't
know your story till the end of time。
CHRISTY。 And if he chances to return again？
WIDOW QUIN。 We'll swear he's a maniac and not your da。 I could take an oath
I seen him raving on the sands to…day。 ＇Girls run in。＇
SUSAN。 Come on to the sports below。 Pegeen says you're to come。
SARA TANSEY。 The lepping's beginning； and we've a jockey's suit to fit upon
you for the mule race on the sands below。
HONOR。 Come on； will you？
CHRISTY。 I will then if Pegeen's beyond。
SARA。 She's in the boreen making game of Shaneen Keogh。
CHRISTY。 Then I'll be going to her now。 ＇He runs out followed by the girls。＇
WIDOW QUIN。 Well； if the worst comes in the end of all； it'll be great game
to see there's none to pity him but a widow woman； the like of me； has buried
her children and destroyed her man。 ＇She goes out。＇
CURTAIN
ACT III。
SCENE； ＇as before。 Later in the day。 Jimmy comes in； slightly drunk。＇
JIMMY ＇calls。＇ Pegeen！ （Crosses to inner door。） Pegeen Mike！ （Comes
back again into the room。） Pegeen！ （Philly comes in in the same state。） （To
Philly。） Did you see herself？
PHILLY。 I did not； but I sent Shawn Keogh with the ass cart for to bear him
home。 （Trying cupboards which are locked。） Well； isn't he a nasty man to get
into such staggers at a morning wake？ and isn't herself the divil's daughter
for locking； and she so fussy after that young gaffer； you might take your
death with drought and none to heed you？
JIMMY。 It's little wonder she'd be fussy； and he after bringing bankrupt ruin
on the roulette man； and the trick…o'…the…loop man； and breaking the nose of
the cockshot…man； and winning all in the sports below； racing； lepping；
dancing； and the Lord knows what！ He's right luck； I'm telling you。
PHILLY。 If he has； he'll be rightly hobbled yet； and he not able to say ten
words without making a brag of the way he killed