Eily Oh, Father Tom!
Father T Oh, it’s not myself I mane.
Anne No, it’s that marauder there, that lent me his top coat in the thunder storm. [Pointing to Myles.
Myles Bedad, ma’am, your beauty left a linin’ in it that has kept me warm ever since.
Eily Myles, you saved my life—it belongs to you. There’s my hand—what will you do with it?
Myles [Takes her hand and Hardress’s.] Take her, wid all my heart. I may say that, for ye can’t take her without. I am like the boy who had a penny to put in the poor-box—I’d rather keep it for myself. It’s a shamrock itself ye have got, sir; and like that flower she’ll come up every year fresh and green foreninst ye. When ye cease to love her may dyin’ become ye, and when ye do die, lave yer money to the poor, your widdy to me, and we’ll both forgive ye.
[Joins hands.
Eily I’m only a poor simple girl, and it’s frightened I am to be surrounded by so many—
Anne Friends, Eily, friends.
Eily Oh, if I could think so—if I could hope that I had established myself in a little corner of their hearts, there wouldn’t be a happier girl alive than The Colleen Bawn.