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 white-wash for our hut within, building up a little goose-house, or stretching a new skin on an old curagh 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.