MATT
Ay—­there before us—­if we like.

ELLEN
Surely we like.

MATT
I was always shy of crowds.  I’m simple, after all, Ellen, and
have no thought beyond the land.

ELLEN
You said that house and land could not keep you.  You told him you
were going as your brothers went.

MATT
And I felt I was going.  I frightened him.  He’ll be glad to see me
back.  It will be long before he treats me that way again.

ELLEN
(suddenly) Matt!

MATT
What is it, Ellen?

ELLEN
I don’t know—­I was upset—­thinking of the quarrel (putting her
hands on his shoulders) My poor Matt.  It was about me you quarrelled.

MATT
Ay, he spoke against you.  I couldn’t put up with that.

ELLEN
He does not know your high spirit.  He does not know your strength.

MATT
Ellen, it’s no shame for a man to have harsh words said to him when
it’s about a woman like you.

ELLEN Let nothing come between us now.  I saw you in the winter making drains and ditches, and it wet.  It’s a poor story, the life of a man on the land.

MATT
I had too much thought for the land.

ELLEN You had.  Have thought for me now.  There is no one in fair or market but would notice me.  I was never a favourite.  I lived to myself.  I did not give my love about.  You have never offered me anything.  In the song a man offers towns to his sweetheart.  You can offer me the sights of great towns, and the fine manners, and the fine life.

MATT
Ellen! (He draws a little away) It’s not me that could offer the
like of that.  I never had anything to my hand but a spade.

ELLEN
Your brothers—­think of them.

MATT
They all left some one behind them.  I am the last of my name.

ELLEN
Why should that keep you back?

MATT
His name is something to a man.  Could you hear of your own name
melting away without unease?  And you are a woman.  A man feels it more.

ELLEN
I do not understand men.  Will you go back to your father’s house
after he shaming you out of it?

MATT
He’ll be glad to see me back.  He’ll never cast it up to me that I
went.

ELLEN
Matt, your father said words against me.  Will you go to him and take
his hand after that?

MATT
It was little he said against you.  It was against your father he
spoke.

ELLEN
(sinking down on a chair, and putting hands before her face)
My God!  After all my waiting, you talk like that.

MATT (going to her) Ellen, Ellen, tell me what I can do for you?  There’s land and houses to be had here.  Father will let me have my own way after this.

ELLEN (rising, with anger) What does it matter to me whether he lets you have your own way or not?  Do you think I could go into a farmer’s house?