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.]
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?