Christy (astonished, slowly). It’s making game of me you were (following her with fearful joy), and I can stay so, working at your side, and I not lonesome from this mortal day.

Pegeen What’s to hinder you from staying, except the widow woman or the young girls would inveigle you off?

Christy (with rapture). And I’ll have your words from this day filling my ears, and that look is come upon you meeting my two eyes, and I watching you loafing around in the warm sun, or rinsing your ankles when the night is come.

Pegeen (kindly, but a little embarrassed). I’m thinking you’ll be a loyal young lad to have working around, and if you vexed me a while since with your leaguing with the girls, I wouldn’t give a thraneen for a lad hadn’t a mighty spirit in him and a gamey heart.

Shawn Keogh runs in carrying a cleeve on his back, followed by the WidowQuin.

Shawn (to Pegeen). I was passing below, and I seen your mountainy sheep eating cabbages in Jimmy’s field. Run up or they’ll be bursting, surely.

Pegeen Oh, God mend them!

She puts a shawl over her head and runs out.

Christy (looking from one to the other. Still in high spirits). I’d best go to her aid maybe. I’m handy with ewes.

Widow Quin (closing the door). She can do that much, and there is Shaneen has long speeches for to tell you now.

She sits down with an amused smile.

Shawn (taking something from his pocket and offering it to Christy). Do you see that, mister?

Christy (looking at it). The half of a ticket to the Western States!

Shawn (trembling with anxiety). I’ll give it to you and my new hat (pulling it out of hamper); and my breeches with the double seat (pulling it off); and my new coat is woven from the blackest shearings for three miles around (giving him the coat); I’ll give you the whole of them, and my blessing, and the blessing of Father Reilly itself, maybe, if you’ll quit from this and leave us in the peace we had till last night at the fall of dark.

Christy (with a new arrogance). And for what is it you’re wanting to get shut of me?

Shawn (looking to the Widow for help). I’m a poor scholar with middling faculties to coin a lie, so I’ll tell you the truth, Christy Mahon. I’m wedding with Pegeen beyond, and I don’t think well of having a clever fearless man the like of you dwelling in her house.

Christy (almost pugnaciously). And you’d be using bribery for to banish me?

Shawn (in an imploring voice). Let you not take it badly, mister honey, isn’t beyond the best place for you where you’ll have golden chains and shiny coats and you riding upon hunters with the ladies of the land.

He makes an eager sign to the Widow Quin to come to help him.