MAIRE Why can’t you stay here?  There’s lots to be done here.  Our fields are a laughing-stock to the neighbours, they’re that poor and wasted.  Let us put all our minds into working, and have a good place of our own.

CONN Ay, and the grabbers and informers of this place would think well of you then.

MAIRE
Who do you call grabbers and informers?

CONN
The people of this place.  The people you want to shine before.

MAIRE
I don’t want to shine before the people.

CONN
I’m not saying against you, Maire.

MAIRE
You’re wrong in thinking I want to shine at all.

CONN
Sure you go to every dance and ceilidh; and to every house
where you can show off your face, and dancing, and conversation.

MAIRE
Do I?  Maybe I do.  Every girl does the like.

CONN
I’m not saying against it.

  Pause.

MAIRE
You think I’m like yourself, wanting the praise of the people.

CONN
And what’s the harm if you do?

MAIRE
No harm at all.  But I don’t go to houses to show myself off.

CONN
Troth and you do, Maire.

  He rises and goes towards the entrance, and remains looking out.

MAIRE
I won’t believe it.

  She goes to the settle.  Anne comes in.  Anne goes to the glass to
  fix her hair.

CONN
Had you a good night at Moynihan’s, Anne?

ANNE
A sort of a good night.

CONN
I was going to tell you about a man I met last night.  He had a
song about your grandmother.

ANNE
Was grandmother a great beauty, father?

CONN
Honor Gilroy had good looks, and indeed she made the most of
them.

MAIRE
It’s likely there was some to tell her that she was showing off.

CONN
No one was to her liking unless they praised her.

ANNE
Ah well, a fiddler ought to forgive that to a woman.  MAIRE
Fiddlers and women are all alike, but don’t say that to him.

  Anne goes to Maire and sits beside her.

CONN
(speaking to both) Well, Honor Gilroy wasn’t the worst, maybe.

MAIRE
And fiddlers and women oughtn’t be hard on each other.

CONN
Do you say that, Maire?

MAIRE
(rising and going to him) I say it, father.

CONN
God forgive me if I vexed you, Maire.

ANNE It’s clearing up now, father, and you ought to go out to James. (Conn turns to the door.  He remains in the doorway.  Anne rises and goes to Maire) What did you say to him?

MAIRE (looking at Conn) He doesn’t feel it at all.  Father will always be the fiddler, no matter what we say.

ANNE
Maire.  Come and talk to me. (They sit at fire) I was talking
to James.  He’ll never be happy until we’re under the one roof.