MURTGAH COSGAR
You’re welcome.  We were making ready for the fair.

MATT
I’ll be going out again before nightfall.

MURTAGH COSGAR
I’ll not be wanting you here, or at the fair.

MATT
(sullenly) There’s no good talking to me like that.

MURTAGH COSGAR
You said, “I’ve come back,” and I said, “you’re
welcome.”  You said, “I’m going out again,” and I said, “I’ll not be
wanting you.”

MATT
Father, have you no feeling for me at all?

MURTAGH COSGAR
Sure the wild raven on the tree has thought for her
young.

MATT
Ay, but do you feel for me, and I standing here, trying to talk
to you?

MURTAGH COSGAR
You’re my son, and so I feel sorry for you; and you
beginning to know your own foolishness. (He turns to Sally) I’m
not taking the pigs.  Put a fresh bedding under them to-night.

SALLY
I will, father.

MURTAGH COSGAR
Be up early, and let the cows along the road, or
they’ll be breaking into the young meadow.

SALLY
I’ll do that, too.

MURTAGH COSGAR
Be sure to keep enough fresh milk for the young calf.

SALLY
I’ll be sure to do it, father.

  She goes out.  Martin takes out his paper, and begins to read it
  again.

MATT (turning on Murtag) Before I go out again there’s something I want settled.

MURTAGH COSGAR
What is it you want?

MATT
Would you have me go, or would you have me stay?

MURTAGH COSGAR
Don’t be talking of going or staying, and you the last
of them.

MATT But I will be talking of it.  You must treat me differently if you want me to stay.  You must treat me differently to the way you treat Sally.

MURTAGH COSGAR
You were always treated differently, Matt.  In no
house that ever I remember was there a boy treated as well as you
are treated here.

MATT
The houses that you remember are different from the houses that
are now.  Will you have me go, or will you have me stay?

MURTAGH COSGAR
You’re very threatening.  I’d have you stay.  For the
sake of the name, I’d have you stay.

MATT
Let us take hands on it, then.

MURTAGH COSGAR
Wait, we’ll see what you want first.

MATT
You have no feeling.  I’d go out of this house, only I want to
give you a chance.

MURTAGH COSGAR
Stop.  We can have kindness in this.  We needn’t be
beating each other down, like men at a fair.

MATT
We’re not men at a fair.  May God keep the kindness in our hearts.

  Martin rises.

MURTAGH COSGAR
Don’t be going, Martin Douras.

MATT
Don’t be going yet.  I’ll be with you, when you’re going.

  Martin sits down.

MURTAGH COSGAR (to Matt) You’ll be getting married, I suppose, if you stay?