NAISI.
— giving it to her. — Where is she?
LAVARCHAM.
— in confidential whisper, putting her hand on his arm. — Let you walk back into the hills and turn up by the second cnuceen where there are three together. You’ll see a path running on the rocks and then you’ll hear the dogs barking in the houses, and their noise will guide you till you come to a bit of cabin at the foot of an ash-tree. It’s there there is a young and flighty girl that I’m thinking is the one you’ve seen.
NAISI.
— hilariously. — Here’s health, then, to herself and you!
ARDAN.
Here’s to the years when you were young as she!
AINNLE.
— in a frightened whisper. — Naisi!
[Naisi looks up and Ainnle beckons to him. He goes over and Ainnle points to something on the golden mug he holds in his hand.
NAISI.
— looking at it in astonishment. — This is the High King’s. . . . I see his mark on the rim. Does Conchubor come lodging here?
LAVARCHAM.
— jumping up with extreme annoyance. — Who says it’s Conchubor’s? How dare young fools the like of you — (speaking with vehement insolence) come prying around, running the world into troubles for some slip of a girl? What brings you this place straying from Emain? (Very bitterly.) Though you think, maybe, young men can do their fill of foolery and there is none to blame them.
NAISI.
— very soberly. — Is the rain easing?
ARDAN.
The clouds are breaking. . . . I can see Orion in the gap of the glen.