MURTAGH COSGAR (to Martin Douras) It’s his own way he wants.  I never had my own way. (To Matt) You’re my last son.  You’re too young to know the hardship there was in rearing you.

MATT (exultantly) Your last son; that won’t keep me here.  I’m the last of my name, but that won’t keep me here.  I leave you your lands, your twenty years’ purchase.  Murtagh Cosgar, Murtagh Cosgar! isn’t that a great name, Martin Douras—­a name that’s well planted, a name for generations?  Isn’t he a lucky man that has a name for generations? (He goes out)

MURTAGH COSGAR
He can’t go.  How could he go and he the last of the name.  Close the
door, I say.

MARTIN DOURAS
He’ll go to Ellen, surely.  We’ll lose both of them.  Murtagh Cosgar,
God comfort you and me.

MURTAGH COSGAR
Ellen; who’s Ellen?  Ay, that daughter of yours.  Close the door, I say.

  He sits down at fireplace.  Martin Douras closes door and goes to
  him.

CURTAIN

ACT II

Interior of Martin Douras’.  The entrance is at back left.  There is a dresser against wall back; a table down from dresser; room doors right and left.  The fireplace is below the room door right; there are stools and chairs about it.  There is a little bookcase left of the dresser, and a mirror beside it.  There are patriotic and religious pictures on the wall.  There are cups and saucers on table, and a teapot beside fire.  It is afternoon still.  Ellen Douras is near the fire reading.  Cornelius comes in slowly.

CORNELIUS I left the men down the road a bit.  We ought to take great pride out of this day, Ellen.  Father did more than any of them to bring it about.

ELLEN He suffered more than any of them.  And it’s little we’ll get out of the day.

CORNELIUS It’s a great thing to have prophesied it, even.  We’ll be here to see a great change.

ELLEN
There will be no change to make things better!

CORNELIUS
Will you be taking that school, Ellen?

ELLEN
I’ll wait a while.

  Sally coming in; she is hurried.

SALLY (breathlessly) Oh, God save you, Cornelius.  Tell me, is my father gone?  I dread going back and he there!  It was all over that baste of a sow that has kept me slaving all through the spring till I don’t know whether greens or potatoes is the fittest for her!

CORNELIUS
He didn’t go, Sally.  I went down a bit of the road myself with the men.

SALLY
Oh, God help me!  And I’ll have to be going back to boil meal
for her now.  How are you, Ellen. (She goes to Ellen)

ELLEN
Sit down for a while, Sally; it’s a long time since I was speaking
to you.

  Sally sits down beside Ellen.

CORNELIUS
I’ll leave this paper where they won’t be looking for pipe-lights. 
There are things in that paper I’d like to be saying. (He takes a
newspaper out of his pocket and goes to room right)