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

have you against it?

      ANNE

       You're becoming a stranger to us, Maire.

      MAIRE (as an apology) I'm out often, I know, but I think as much as ever of the house, and about you and father. You know we couldn't let him go to the Feis at Ardagh. We couldn't let him go off like a rambling fiddler.

      ANNE

       We couldn't let him go off by himself.

      MAIRE

       You're going to Moynihan's.

      ANNE

       Maybe I'll go.

      MAIRE

       Anne, honey, do something for me.

      ANNE

       What will I do?

      MAIRE

       You'll meet father coming up with Brian, and take him away.

      ANNE

       And will you tell me everything to-night?

      MAIRE Who else would I talk to but yourself, Nancy? (Anne goes out) I wish Anne hadn't spoken to me like that. I feel the like of that. (Desperately) Well, I'll pray for nothing now but to look my best. (She goes to the fire. Brian MacConnell comes in) You're welcome, Brian.

      BRIAN

       We didn't finish to-day. I'll come in to-morrow and finish.

      MAIRE

       O no, Brian, we won't take another day from you.

      BRIAN Well, what's a day after all? Many's the day and night I put in thinking on you.

      MAIRE

       But did you do what I asked you to do?

      BRIAN I did. I made it up with my brothers. It was never my way before. What I wanted I took with the strong hand; or if I mightn't put the strong hand on it, I left it alone.

      MAIRE (eagerly) Tell me what your brother said to you.

      BRIAN When I came up to the door, Hugh came out to meet me. "What destruction are you bringing me?" he said. "There's my hand," says I, "and I take your offer." MAIRE Ah, that's settled. You could settle anything, Brian. (She goes to the settle and sits down) I wonder could you settle something for us?

      BRIAN

       What is it, Maire?

      MAIRE It's my father. He wants to be rambling again. He wants to be going to some Feis.

      BRIAN

       Sure, let him go.

      He takes her hand.

      MAIRE I couldn't, Brian. Couldn't you help us? Couldn't you keep father's mind on the right things?

      BRIAN

       Sure, let the fiddler go on the roads.

      MAIRE You might stay here this evening with ourselves. Father would be glad to talk with you.

      BRIAN (putting his arm around her) But I want the two of us to be seen in Moynihan's to-night.

      MAIRE (resistance in her voice) Stay here with us, and let all that go by.

      BRIAN Hugh will be there with that woman that brought him the big fortune; and I want you to take the shine out of her.

      MAIRE (rising) I was out often lately. You know that, Brian.

      She goes to chair at table, and sits away from him.

      BRIAN (rising and going to her) But this night above all you must be with me.

      MAIRE (turning to him impulsively) Stay here and I'll be as nice to you as if we were in another house. (He kisses her. She rises and goes from him) If you knew me at all, Brian MacConnell, that's not the way you'd treat me.

      BRIAN

       Are you not coming out with me?

      MAIRE

       You must leave me to myself now. (Conn Hourican comes in) Is Anne with you, father?

      CONN She's gathering posies or something like that. Brian, did you hear about the Feis at Ardagh?

      MAIRE (with vehemence) Oh, what's the good of talking about that? You can't go.

      CONN

       Can't go, did you say, girl?

      MAIRE

       Oh, how could you go?

      CONN Is that the way? Well, God help us. Give me that fiddle till I leave it up.

      He takes the fiddle off dresser, and turns to go.

      MAIRE

       Father, let me be with you to-night; oh, I'm sorry if I vexed

       you. (No reply) Well, stay with Brian MacConnell; I'm going out to Anne.

      Maire goes out. Brian goes to rack, and puts on his coat.

      BRIAN

       Are you coming, Conn? I'm off.

      CONN

       Where to, man?

      BRIAN

       To Flynn's.

      CONN

       I can't be going, I'm sorry to say.

      BRIAN I'm going anyway. It's a great thing to be in the company of men.

      CONN

       Ay, in troth. Women, Brian, leave the heart of one very lonesome.

      BRIAN (masterfully) Why can't you come out? I thought you were going to-night.

      CONN I can't, Brian, and that reminds me. Give these few shillings to Flynn for me. I'll owe them to you still.

      BRIAN

       I'm not going to be bothered by the like. Why can't you come?

      CONN

       I promised Maire.

      Brian strides away. He turns, comes back deliberately, and sits on table beside Conn.

      BRIAN

       They'll be all looking out for you at Flynn's.

      CONN

       Well, the next time they see me they may respect me.

      BRIAN Some of the boys will take it very unkindly. CONN They're decent enough fellows, some of them.

      BRIAN And above all nights they'll be watching out for you this night, on account of the Sligomen.

      CONN They're decent enough fellows, as I said, and I'll be sorry to disappoint them.

      BRIAN

       The Sligomen will have great stories about Shawn Heffernan.

      CONN

       Shawn Heffernan! Is that impostor still alive?

      BRIAN He is, and for fiddling these Sligomen think there's not the like of him in the whole of Ireland.

      CONN God help them if that's all they know. We played against each other at the Granard Feis. He got the prize, but everybody knew that it was me played the best.

      BRIAN

       There's few of them alive now that mind of the Granard Feis.

       He got the prize, and there's no talk of you at all.

      CONN

       No talk of me at all?

      BRIAN

       It's said that since you settled down you lost your art.

      CONN And what had the men at Flynn's to say about that? BRIAN They bragged about you for a while, but the Sligomen