He goes to the door.

ANNE
Tell Brian to come in now.

  Conn Hourican goes out.  There is a pause.  Maire hums a tune as she
  goes to the mirror.

MAIRE
Am I looking well to-day?

ANNE (rather distantly) You’re looking your best, I think. (Seriously) Maire, I didn’t like the way you talked to father.

MAIRE
(petulantly) What have you against it?

ANNE
You’re becoming a stranger to us, Maire.

MAIRE (as an apology) I’m out often, I know, but I think as much as ever of the house, and about you and father.  You know we couldn’t let him go to the Feis at Ardagh.  We couldn’t let him go off like a rambling fiddler.

ANNE
We couldn’t let him go off by himself.

MAIRE
You’re going to Moynihan’s.

ANNE
Maybe I’ll go.

MAIRE
Anne, honey, do something for me.

ANNE
What will I do?

MAIRE
You’ll meet father coming up with Brian, and take him away.

ANNE
And will you tell me everything to-night?

MAIRE Who else would I talk to but yourself, Nancy? (Anne goes out) I wish Anne hadn’t spoken to me like that.  I feel the like of that. (Desperately) Well, I’ll pray for nothing now but to look my best. (She goes to the fire.  Brian MacConnell comes in) You’re welcome, Brian.

BRIAN
We didn’t finish to-day.  I’ll come in to-morrow and finish.

MAIRE
O no, Brian, we won’t take another day from you.

BRIAN
Well, what’s a day after all?  Many’s the day and night I put
in thinking on you.

MAIRE
But did you do what I asked you to do?

BRIAN I did.  I made it up with my brothers.  It was never my way before.  What I wanted I took with the strong hand; or if I mightn’t put the strong hand on it, I left it alone.

MAIRE
(eagerly) Tell me what your brother said to you.

BRIAN When I came up to the door, Hugh came out to meet me.  “What destruction are you bringing me?” he said.  “There’s my hand,” says I, “and I take your offer.”  MAIRE Ah, that’s settled.  You could settle anything, Brian. (She goes to the settle and sits down) I wonder could you settle something for us?

BRIAN
What is it, Maire?

MAIRE
It’s my father.  He wants to be rambling again.  He wants to be
going to some Feis.

BRIAN
Sure, let him go.

  He takes her hand.

MAIRE
I couldn’t, Brian.  Couldn’t you help us?  Couldn’t you keep
father’s mind on the right things?

BRIAN
Sure, let the fiddler go on the roads.

MAIRE
You might stay here this evening with ourselves.  Father would
be glad to talk with you.

BRIAN (putting his arm around her) But I want the two of us to be seen in Moynihan’s to-night.