MURTAGH COSGAR Listen to me, Matt Cosgar; and you listen too, Ellen Douras.  It’s a new house you want maybe.  This house was built for me and my generations; but I’ll build a new house for you both.  It’s hard for a man to part with his land before the hour of his death; and it’s hard for a man to break his lands; but I’ll break them, and give a share of land to you.

ELLEN You were never friendly to me; but you have the high spirit, and you deserve a better daughter than I would make.  The land and house you offer would be a drag on me. (She goes to the door)

MATT
Ellen, what he offers is nothing, after all; but I care for you. 
Sure you won’t go from me like that?

ELLEN
Oh, can’t you let me go? 
I care for you as much as I care for any one.  But it’s my freedom I
want.

MATT
Then you’re going surely?

ELLEN
I am.  Good-bye.

  She goes out, Martin follows her.  Matt stands dazed.  Murtagh
  closes the door, then goes and takes Matt’s arm, and brings him down.

MURTAGH COSGAR
Be a man.  We offered her everything, and she went. 
There’s no knowing what the like of her wants.  The men will be in
soon, and we’ll drink to the new ownership.

MATT
Oh, what’s the good in talking about that now?  If Ellen was here,
we might be talking about it.

MURTAGH COSGAR
To-morrow you and me might go together.  Ay, the bog
behind the meadow is well drained by this, and we might put the
plough over it.  There will be a fine, deep soil in it, I’m thinking. 
Don’t look that way, Matt, my son.

MATT
When I meet Ellen Douras again, it’s not a farmer’s house I’ll
be offering her, nor life in a country place.

MURTAGH COSGAR
No one could care for you as I care for you.  I know
the blood between us, and I know the thoughts I had as I saw each of
you grow up.

  Matt moves to the door.

MURTAGH COSGAR
Where are you going?

MATT
To see the boys that are going away.

MURTAGH COSGAR
Wait till the fall and I’ll give you money to go and
come back.  Farrell Kavanagh often goes to America.  You could go with
him.

MATT
I’ll go by myself, unless Ellen Douras comes now.  The creamery
owes me money for the carting, and I’ll get it.

MURTAGH COSGAR
Then go.  Good-bye to you, Matt Cosgar.

MATT
Good-bye to you.

  He goes out.  Murtagh stands, then moves about vaguely

MURTAGH COSGAR
The floor swept, the hearth tidied.  It’s a queer end
to it all.  Twenty years I bid them offer.  Twenty years, twenty years!

  Martin comes back.

MURTAGH COSGAR
The men will be coming back.

MARTIN DOURAS
I suppose they will.

MURTAGH COSGAR
You’re a queer fellow, Martin Douras.  You went to
gaol for some meeting.