Broadbent.  I don’t agree with that, Larry.  I think these things cannot be said too often:  they keep up the moral tone of the community.  As you know, I claim the right to think for myself in religious matters:  in fact, I am ready to avow myself a bit of a—­of a—­well, I don’t care who knows it—­a bit of a Unitarian; but if the Church of England contained a few men like Mr Keegan, I should certainly join it.

Keegan.  You do me too much honor, sir. [With priestly humility to Larry] Mr Doyle:  I am to blame for having unintentionally set your mind somewhat on edge against me.  I beg your pardon.

Larry [unimpressed and hostile].  I didn’t stand on ceremony with you:  you needn’t stand on it with me.  Fine manners and fine words are cheap in Ireland:  you can keep both for my friend here, who is still imposed on by them.  I know their value.

Keegan.  You mean you don’t know their value.

Larry [angrily].  I mean what I say.

Keegan [turning quietly to the Englishman] You see, Mr Broadbent, I only make the hearts of my countrymen harder when I preach to them:  the gates of hell still prevail against me.  I shall wish you good evening.  I am better alone, at the Round Tower, dreaming of heaven. [He goes up the hill].

Larry.  Aye, that’s it! there you are! dreaming, dreaming, dreaming, dreaming!

Keegan [halting and turning to them for the last time].  Every dream is a prophecy:  every jest is an earnest in the womb of Time.

Broadbent [reflectively].  Once, when I was a small kid, I dreamt I was in heaven. [They both stare at him].  It was a sort of pale blue satin place, with all the pious old ladies in our congregation sitting as if they were at a service; and there was some awful person in the study at the other side of the hall.  I didn’t enjoy it, you know.  What is it like in your dreams?

Keegan.  In my dreams it is a country where the State is the Church and the Church the people:  three in one and one in three.  It is a commonwealth in which work is play and play is life:  three in one and one in three.  It is a temple in which the priest is the worshipper and the worshipper the worshipped:  three in one and one in three.  It is a godhead in which all life is human and all humanity divine:  three in one and one in three.  It is, in short, the dream of a madman. [He goes away across the hill].

Broadbent [looking after him affectionately].  What a regular old Church and State Tory he is!  He’s a character:  he’ll be an attraction here.  Really almost equal to Ruskin and Carlyle.

Larry.  Yes; and much good they did with all their talk!

Broadbent.  Oh tut, tut, Larry!  They improved my mind:  they raised my tone enormously.  I feel sincerely obliged to Keegan:  he has made me feel a better man:  distinctly better. [With sincere elevation] I feel now as I never did before that I am right in devoting my life to the cause of Ireland.  Come along and help me to choose the site for the hotel.