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Mulrannies were driven from California and they lost in their wits。 We're a
queer lot these times to go troubling the Holy Father on his sacred seat。
SHAWN ＇scandalized。＇ If we are； we're as good this place as another；
maybe； and as good these times as we were for ever。
PEGEEN ＇with scorn。＇ As good； is it？ Where now will you meet the like of
Daneen Sullivan knocked the eye from a peeler； or Marcus Quin； God rest him；
got six months for maiming ewes； and he a great warrant to tell stories of
holy Ireland till he'd have the old women shedding down tears about their
feet。 Where will you find the like of them； I'm saying？
SHAWN ＇timidly。＇ If you don't it's a good job； maybe； for （with peculiar
emphasis on the words） Father Reilly has small conceit to have that kind
walking around and talking to the girls。
PEGEEN ＇impatiently； throwing water from basin out of the door。＇ Stop
tormenting me with Father Reilly （imitating his voice） when I'm asking only
what way I'll pass these twelve hours of dark； and not take my death with the
fear。 ＇Looking out of door。＇
SHAWN ＇timidly。＇ Would I fetch you the widow Quin； maybe？
PEGEEN。 Is it the like of that murderer？ You'll not； surely。
SHAWN ＇going to her； soothingly。＇ Then I'm thinking himself will stop
along with you when he sees you taking on； for it'll be a long night…time with
great darkness； and I'm after feeling a kind of fellow above in the furzy
ditch； groaning wicked like a maddening dog； the way it's good cause you have；
maybe； to be fearing now。
PEGEEN ＇turning on him sharply。＇ What's that？ Is it a man you seen？
SHAWN ＇retreating。＇ I couldn't see him at all； but I heard him groaning
out； and breaking his heart。 It should have been a young man from his words
speaking。
PEGEEN ＇going after him。＇ And you never went near to see was he hurted
or what ailed him at all？
SHAWN。 I did not； Pegeen Mike。 It was a dark； lonesome place to be hearing
the like of him。
PEGEEN。 Well； you're a daring fellow； and if they find his corpse stretched
above in the dews of dawn； what'll you say then to the peelers； or the Justice
of the Peace？
SHAWN ＇thunderstruck。＇ I wasn't thinking of that。 For the love of God；
Pegeen Mike； don't let on I was speaking of him。 Don't tell your father and
the men is coming above； for if they heard that story； they'd have great
blabbing this night at the wake。
PEGEEN。 I'll maybe tell them； and I'll maybe not。
SHAWN。 They are coming at the door； Will you whisht； I'm saying？
PEGEEN。 Whisht yourself。
＇She goes behind counter。 Michael James； fat jovial publican； comes in
followed by Philly Cullen； who is thin and mistrusting； and Jimmy Farrell； who
is fat and amorous； about forty…five。＇
MEN ＇together。＇ God bless you。 The blessing of God on this place。
PEGEEN。 God bless you kindly。
MICHAEL ＇to men who go to the counter。＇ Sit down now； and take your
rest。 （Crosses to Shawn at the fire。） And how is it you are； Shawn Keogh？
Are you coming over the sands to Kate Cassidy's wake？
SHAWN。 I am not； Michael James。 I'm going home the short cut to my bed。
PEGEEN ＇speaking across the counter。＇ He's right too； and have you no
shame； Michael James； to be quitting off for the whole night； and leaving
myself lonesome in the shop？
MICHAEL ＇good…humouredly。＇ Isn't it the same whether I go for the whole
night or a part only？ and I'm thinking it's a queer daughter you are if you'd
have me crossing backward through the Stooks of the Dead Women； with a drop
taken。
PEGEEN。 If I am a queer daughter； it's a queer father'd be leaving me
lonesome these twelve hours of dark； and I piling the turf with the dogs
barking； and the calves mooing； and my own teeth rattling with the fear。
JIMMY ＇flatteringly。＇ What is there to hurt you； and you a fine； hardy
girl would knock the head of any two men in the place？
PEGEEN ＇working herself up。＇ Isn't there the harvest boys with their
tongues red for drink； and the ten tinkers is camped in the east glen； and the
thousand militia bad cess to them！ walking idle through the land。
There's lots surely to hurt me； and I won't stop alone in it； let himself do
what he will。
MICHAEL。 If you're that afeard； let Shawn Keogh stop along with you。 It's
the will of God； I'm thinking； himself should be seeing to you now。 ＇They all
turn on Shawn。＇
SHAWN ＇in horrified confusion。＇ I would and welcome； Michael James； but
I'm afeard of Father Reilly； and what at all would the Holy Father and the
Cardinals of Rome be saying if they heard I did the like of that？
MICHAEL ＇with contempt。＇ God help you！ Can't you sit in by the hearth
with the light lit and herself beyond in the room？ You'll do that surely； for
I've heard tell there's a queer fellow above； going mad or getting his death；
maybe； in the gripe of the ditch； so she'd be safer this night with a person
here。
SHAWN ＇with plaintive despair。＇ I'm afeard of Father Reilly； I'm saying。
Let you not be tempting me； and we near married itself。
PHILLY ＇with cold contempt。＇ Lock him in the west room。 He'll stay then
and have no sin to be telling to the priest。
MICHAEL ＇to Shawn； getting between him and the door。＇ Go up now。
SHAWN ＇at the top of his voice。＇ Don't stop me； Michael James。 Let me
out of the door； I'm saying； for the love of the Almighty God。 Let me out
（trying to dodge past him）。 Let me out of it； and may God grant you His
indulgence in the hour of need。
MICHAEL ＇loudly。＇ Stop your noising； and sit down by the hearth。 ＇Gives
him a push and goes to counter laughing。＇
SHAWN ＇turning back； wringing his hands。＇ Oh； Father Reilly and the
saints of God； where will I hide myself to…day？ Oh； St。 Joseph and St。
Patrick and St。 Brigid； and St。 James； have mercy on me now！ ＇Shawn turns
round； sees door clear； and makes a rush for it。＇
MICHAEL ＇catching him by the coattail。＇ You'd be going； is it？
SHAWN ＇screaming。＇ Leave me go； Michael James； leave me go； you old Pagan；
leave me go； or I'll get the curse of the priests on you； and of the
scarlet…coated bishops of the courts of Rome。 ＇With a sudden movement he pulls
himself out of his coat； and disappears out of the door； leaving his coat in
Michael's hands。＇
MICHAEL ＇turning round； and holding up coat。＇ Well； there's the coat of
a Christian man。 Oh； there's sainted glory this day in the lonesome west； and
by the will of God I've got you a decent man； Pegeen； you'll have no call to
be spying after if you've a score of young girls； maybe； weeding in your
fields。
PEGEEN ＇taking up the defence of her property。＇ What right have you to be
making game of a poor fellow for minding the priest； when it's your own the
fault is； not paying a penny pot…boy to stand along with me and give me
courage in the doing of my work？ ＇She snaps the coat away from