Mary. I think I hear carts on the road. (She gets up, and goes to the door.)
Martin. It's the people coming back from the fair. Shut the door, Mary; I wouldn't like them to see how bare the house is; and I'll put a smear of ashes on the window, the way they won't see we're here at all.
Blind Man (raising his head suddenly). Do not do that; but open the door wide, and let the blessing of God come in on you. (Mary opens the door again. He takes up his fiddle, and begins to play on it. A little boy puts in his head at the door; and then another head is seen, and another with that again.)
Blind Man. Who is that at the door?
Mary. Little boys that came to listen to you.
Blind Man. Come in, boys. (Three or four come inside.)
Blind Man. Boys, I am listening to the carts coming home from the fair. Let you go out, and stop the people; tell them they must come in: there is a wedding-dance here this evening.
Boy. The people are going home. They wouldn't stop for us.
Blind Man. Tell them to come in; and there will be as fine a dance as ever they saw. But they must all give a present to the man and woman that are newly married.
Another Boy. Why would they come in? They can have a dance of their own at any time. There is a piper in the big town.