Widow Quin (coming over). It’s true for him, and you’d best quit off and not have that poor girl setting her mind on you, for there’s Shaneen thinks she wouldn’t suit you though all is saying that she’ll wed you now.

Christy beams with delight.

Shawn (in terrified earnest). She wouldn’t suit you, and she with the divil’s own temper the way you’d be strangling one another in a score of days. (He makes the movement of strangling with his hands.) It’s the like of me only that she’s fit for, a quiet simple fellow wouldn’t raise a hand upon her if she scratched itself.

Widow Quin (putting Shawn’s hat on Christy). Fit them clothes on you anyhow, young fellow, and he’d maybe loan them to you for the sports. (Pushing him towards inner door.) Fit them on and you can give your answer when you have them tried.

Christy (beaming, delighted with the clothes). I will then. I’d like herself to see me in them tweeds and hat.

He goes into room and shuts the door.

Shawn (in great anxiety). He’d like herself to see them. He’ll not leave us, Widow Quin. He’s a score of divils in him the way it’s well nigh certain he will wed Pegeen.

Widow Quin (jeeringly). It’s true all girls are fond of courage and do hate the like of you.

Shawn (walking about in desperation). Oh, Widow Quin, what’ll I be doing now? I’d inform again him, but he’d burst from Kilmainham and he’d be sure and certain to destroy me. If I wasn’t so God-fearing, I’d near have courage to come behind him and run a pike into his side. Oh, it’s a hard case to be an orphan and not to have your father that you’re used to, and you’d easy kill and make yourself a hero in the sight of all. (Coming up to her.) Oh, Widow Quin, will you find me some contrivance when I’ve promised you a ewe?

Widow Quin A ewe’s a small thing, but what would you give me if I did wed him and did save you so?

Shawn (with astonishment). You?

Widow Quin Aye. Would you give me the red cow you have and the mountainy ram, and the right of way across your rye path, and a load of dung at Michaelmas, and turbary upon the western hill?

Shawn (radiant with hope). I would surely, and I’d give you the wedding-ring I have, and the loan of a new suit, the way you’d have him decent on the wedding-day. I’d give you two kids for your dinner, and a gallon of poteen, and I’d call the piper on the long car to your wedding from Crossmolina or from Ballina. I’d give you …

Widow Quin That’ll do so, and let you whisht, for he’s coming now again.

Christy comes in very natty in the new clothes. Widow Quin goes to him admiringly.

Widow Quin If you seen yourself now, I’m thinking you’d be too proud to speak to us at all, and it’d be a pity surely to have your like sailing from Mayo to the Western World.

Christy (as proud as a peacock). I’m not going. If this is a poor place itself, I’ll make myself contented to be lodging here.

Widow Quin makes a sign to Shawn to leave them.