Maurya [taking a stick Nora gives her]. In the big world the old people do be leaving things after them for their sons and children, but in this place it is the young men do be leaving things behind for them that do be old. [She goes out slowly. Nora goes over to the ladder.]
Cathleen. Wait, Nora, maybe she'd turn back quickly. She's that sorry, God help her, you wouldn't know the thing she'd do.
Nora. Is she gone round by the bush?
Cathleen [looking out]. She's gone now. Throw it down quickly, for the Lord knows when she'll be out of it again.
Nora [getting the bundle from the loft]. The young priest said he'd be passing to-morrow, and we might go down and speak to him below if it's Michael's they are surely.
Cathleen [taking the bundle]. Did he say what way they were found?
Nora [coming down]. "There were two men," says he, "and they rowing round with poteen before the cocks crowed, and the oar of one of them caught the body, and they passing the black cliffs of the north."
Cathleen [trying to open the bundle]. Give me a knife, Nora, the string's perished with the salt water, and there's a black knot on it you wouldn't loosen in a week.
Nora [giving her a knife]. I've heard tell it was a long way to Donegal.
Cathleen [cutting the string]. It is surely. There was a man in here a while ago—the man sold us that knife—and he said if you set off walking from the rocks beyond, it would be seven days you'd be in Donegal.