poaching rabbits on hills, for I was a devil to poach, God forgive me, (very naïvely) and I near got six months for going with a dung fork and stabbing a fish.

Pegeen And it’s that you’d call sport, is it, to be abroad in the darkness with yourself alone?

Christy I did, God help me, and there I’d be as happy as the sunshine of St. Martin’s Day, watching the light passing the north or the patches of fog, till I’d hear a rabbit starting to screech and I’d go running in the furze. Then when I’d my full share I’d come walking down where you’d see the ducks and geese stretched sleeping on the highway of the road, and before I’d pass the dunghill, I’d hear himself snoring out, a loud lonesome snore he’d be making all times, the while he was sleeping, and he a man ’d be raging all times, the while he was waking, like a gaudy officer you’d hear cursing and damning and swearing oaths.

Pegeen Providence and Mercy, spare us all!

Christy It’s that you’d say surely if you seen him and he after drinking for weeks, rising up in the red dawn, or before it maybe, and going out into the yard as naked as an ash tree in the moon of May, and shying clods against the visage of the stars till he’d put the fear of death into the banbhs and the screeching sows.

Pegeen I’d be well-night afeard of that lad myself, I’m thinking. And there was no one in it but the two of you alone?

Christy The divil a one, though he’d sons and daughters walking all great states and territories of the world, and not a one of them, to this day, but would say their seven curses on him, and they rousing up to let a cough or sneeze, maybe, in the deadness of the night.

Pegeen (nodding her head). Well, you should have been a queer lot. I never cursed my father the like of that, though I’m twenty and more years of age.

Christy Then you’d have cursed mine, I’m telling you, and he a man never gave peace to any, saving when he’d get two months or three, or be locked in the asylums for battering peelers or assaulting men (with depression), the way it was a bitter life he led me till I did up a Tuesday and halve his skull.

Pegeen (putting her hand on his shoulder). Well, you’ll have peace in this place, Christy Mahon, and none to trouble you, and it’s near time a fine lad like you should have your good share of the earth.

Christy It’s time surely, and I a seemly fellow with great strength in me and bravery of … (Some one knocks).

Christy (clinging to Pegeen). Oh, glory! it’s late for knocking, and this last while I’m in terror of the peelers, and the walking dead. (Knocking again).

Pegeen Who’s there?

Voice (outside). Me.

Pegeen Who’s me?

Voice The Widow Quin.

Pegeen (jumping up and giving him the bread and milk). Go on now with your supper, and let on to be sleepy, for if she found you were such a warrant to talk, she’d be stringing gabble till the dawn of day.

He takes bread and sits shyly with his back to the door.

Pegeen (opening door, with temper). What ails you, or what is it you’re wanting at this hour of the night?