BRIAN
To be sure I will, Conn.

  Brian goes to the dresser, and puts money on a shelf.

CONN (with dignity) Thank you, Brian.  There’s few I’d let put me under a compliment; but I take it from you.  Maire, as I said, is a careful girl, but some of us must have our freedom.  Besides, Brian, the bird that sings lone sings slow.  The man of art must have his listeners. (Conn takes the money off dresser) Anne, daughter, what’s keeping you there?  Sure the spectacles were in my pocket the whole time, child. (Anne comes dawn) When I spoke against the people about here, I was leaving you out of it, Brian.

BRIAN
I’m fond of tune, though it wasn’t here I got fond of it.

  Brian goes to the door.

ANNE
(going to Brian) You won’t be rambling again, Brian?

BRIAN
I’m settled here, Anne; I made it up with my brothers.

ANNE
They used to say that a MacConnell quarrel was a lasting quarrel.

BRIAN
Maybe we’re working the bad blood out of us.

ANNE
Don’t be staying out long, Brian.

BRIAN
Till Maire gives me the call.

  Brian MacConnell goes out.

ANNE
We oughtn’t to take another clay from Brian MacConnell.  There’s
only the patch at the back to be mown, and you could do that yourself.

CONN
You can depend on me for the mowing.  I’m going up now, to go
over an oul’ tune I have.

ANNE
James Moynihan would come over and stack for us.

CONN
James Moynihan is a decent boy, too.

ANNE
You won’t be going out to-night, father?

CONN
Now, how’s a man to know what he’ll be doing?

ANNE
It leaves me very anxious.

CONN I’ll give you this advice, and it’s proper advice to give to a girl thinking of marrying.  Never ask of your menkind where they’re going.

ANNE
The like of that brings bad luck on a house.

CONN
You have too much dead knowledge, and the shut fist never
caught a bird.

ANNE
I only wish you were settled down.

CONN
Sure I am settled down.

ANNE
I can’t speak to you, after all.

CONN You’re a good girl, Anne, and he’ll be lucky that gets you.  And don’t be grieving that you’re not bringing James Moynihan a fortune.  You’re bringing him the decency of birth and rearing.  You’re like the lone pigeon I often think—­the pet that doesn’t fly, and keeps near the house.

ANNE
That’s the way you always treat me, and I never can talk to you.

CONN (at window) Hush now, here’s the other, your sister Maire.  She’s like the wild pigeon of the woods. (Maire Hourican comes in) We were discoursing on affairs, Maire.  We won’t be bringing Brian MacConnell here tomorrow; there’s only the bit at the back to be mown, and I’ll do that myself.