TIMMY.
suspicious, but uncertain. — He’s no sense, surely, and he’ll be having himself driven off this day from where he’s good sleeping, and feeding, and wages for his work.
MOLLY BYRNE.
as before. — He’s a bigger fool than that, Timmy. Look on him now, and tell me if that isn’t a grand fellow to think he’s only to open his mouth to have a fine woman, the like of me, running along by his heels.
[Martin Doul recoils towards centre, with his hand to his eyes; Mary Doul is seen on left coming forward softly.]
TIMMY.
with blank amazement. — Oh, the blind is wicked people, and it’s no lie. But he’ll walk off this day and not be troubling us more.
[Turns back left and picks up Martin Doul’s coat and stick; some things fall out of coat pocket, which he gathers up again.]
MARTIN DOUL.
turns around, sees Mary Doul, whispers to Molly Byrne with imploring agony. — Let you not put shame on me, Molly, before herself and the smith. Let you not put shame on me and I after saying fine words to you, and dreaming... dreams... in the night. (He hesitates, and looks round the sky.) Is it a storm of thunder is coming, or the last end of the world? (He staggers towards Mary Doul, tripping slightly over tin can.) The heavens is closing, I’m thinking, with darkness and great trouble passing in the sky. (He reaches Mary Doul, and seizes her left arm with both his hands — with a frantic cry.) Is it darkness of thunder is coming, Mary Doul! Do you see me clearly with your eyes?
MARY DOUL.
snatches her arm away, and hits him with empty sack across the face. — I see you a sight too clearly, and let you keep off from me now.
MOLLY BYRNE.
clapping her hands. — That’s right, Mary. That’s the way to treat the like of him is after standing there at my feet and asking me to go off with him, till I’d grow an old wretched road-woman the like of yourself.
MARY DOUL.
defiantly. — When the skin shrinks on your chin, Molly Byrne, there won’t be the like of you for a shrunk hag in the four quarters of Ireland.... It’s a fine pair you’d be, surely!
[Martin Doul is standing at back right centre, with his back to the audience.]