Three Plays: The Fiddler's House, The Land, Thomas Muskerry. Padraic Colum

You'd get an indulgence, Maire, if you missed a dance.

      MAIRE Would it be so hard to get an indulgence? (She takes flowers from dresser and puts them in window) The house looks nice this evening. We'll keep Brian here for a while, and then we'll go to Moynihan's.

      ANNE

       Father will be going out to-night.

      MAIRE (turning suddenly from window) Will he?

      ANNE He will. I think I ought to stay in. Maire, father was in only a while before you the night before last and another night.

      MAIRE O, and I thinking things were going so well with us. He's drinking again.

      ANNE

       He's going to Flynn's again.

      MAIRE

       Disgracing us again.

      ANNE

       I'll stay in to-night.

      MAIRE

       I'm tired of this.

      ANNE

       Don't say it that way, Maire.

      MAIRE

       What will people say of us two now?

      ANNE

       I'll talk to him to-night.

      MAIRE No, you're going out—you're going to Moynihan's—you're going to see your sweetheart.

      ANNE

       I think you're becoming a stranger to us, Maire.

      MAIRE You're going to Moynihan's to-night, and I'm going, too. But I'm going to settle this first. Once and for all I'm going to settle this.

      The fiddle has ceased. As Maire goes towards the room, Conn Hourican comes down, the fiddle in his hand.

      CONN Were you listening to the tune I was playing? Ah, that was a real oul tune, if there was anyone that knew it. Maire, my jewel, were you listening?

      MAIRE

       I heard you.

      CONN It was a real oul' tune, and while I was playing it a great scheme came into my head. Now, listen to me, Maire; and you listen, too, Anne. Both of you would like to see your father having what's his due after all, honour and respect.

      MAIRE

       Both of us would like to see our father earn the same.

      CONN

       I could earn the same, ay, and gold and silver cups besides, if

       I had the mind to earn them.

      He puts fiddle on table and prepares to speak impressively.

      CONN Let ye listen to me now; I've a scheme to put before ye. When I was going over the oul tune, I remembered that I'd heard of a Feis [2] that's coming on soon, the Feis of Ardagh. I'm thinking of going there. There will be great prizes for some one; I don't doubt but I'd do at Ardagh better than I did at the Feis of Granard, where people as high as bishops were proud and glad to know Conn Hourican the Fiddler.

      [Footnote 2: Feis, pronounced Fesh, a musical or literary gathering, with competitions.]

      ANNE

       Father, you've a place to mind.

      CONN I'm tired of that kind of talk; sure I'm always thinking of the place. Maire hasn't little notions. What do you say to it, Maire, my girl?

      MAIRE What do I say? I say you're not a rambler now, though indeed you behave like one.

      CONN

       You have something against me, Maire.

      MAIRE

       I have.

      CONN

       What has she against me, Anne?

      MAIRE

       All the promises you broke.

      CONN

       You were listening to what the town is saying.

      MAIRE What does the town know? Does it know that you stripped us of stock and crop the year after we came here? Does it know that Anne and myself, two girls of the roads, had to struggle ever since to keep a shelter?

      CONN (bitterly) It knows that. It couldn't help but know it, maybe. But does it know all the promises you made and broke?

      CONN (angrily) Hush now; I'll hear no more. I went my own way always, and I'll go my own way always.

      He goes to the entrance, and remains with his back turned. Maire goes to Anne.

      MAIRE (raising her voice) Ay, he'll go his own way always. What was the good of working and saving here?

      ANNE

       Be quiet with him.

      MAIRE He'll go his own way always, and it's foolish of us to be fretting for him night and day.

      Maire sits on stool and puts her hands across her face.

      CONN (turning his head) Fretting for me. It was too easy that I reared you.

      ANNE God help Maire! She kept the house together at the worst, and she is always fretting for us.

      CONN

       I'm oul' enough to mind myself. Let her remember that.

      ANNE

       It's you that ought to remember that.

      CONN (going to Maire) Did I ever give the harsh word to you, child?

      No answer.

      CONN There, there; I never could see tears in a woman's eyes; there, there, colleen. I'm an oul' man; I won't be a trouble to you long.

      MAIRE (rising) Why need you play in Flynn's? You're as good as any that goes there.

      CONN I know that. I'm disgusted with Flynn. May hell loosen his knees for him! I'll go in and throw his money on the counter.

      MAIRE Some one else can do that. Promise me you won't go near the place.

      CONN

       You'll have me promise. I promise.

      MAIRE Take this in your hand and promise. It's a medal that belonged to mother.

       She takes a medal from her neck

      CONN (taking the medal) I'm disgusted with Flynn. I promise you, Maire.

      MAIRE

       Now you've honour and respect.

      CONN

       And what about Ardagh, Maire?

      MAIRE

       Sure, you're not the rambling fiddler any more.

      CONN That would be the good rambling. I see the trees making shadows across the roads.

      MAIRE

       We'll talk about it again.

      ANNE

       Brian MacConnell will be coming in now. CONN I'm going out to

       Brian MacConnell.

      He goes to the door.

      ANNE

       Tell Brian to come in now.

      Conn Hourican goes out. There is a pause. Maire hums a tune as she goes to the mirror.

      MAIRE

       Am I looking well to-day?

      ANNE (rather distantly) You're looking your best, I think. (Seriously) Maire, I didn't like the way you talked to father.

      MAIRE (petulantly) What