NORA
　　Iwasn’tlongatall，stranger，forImethimselfonthepath。
　　TRAMP
　　Youweremiddlinglong，ladyofthehouse。
　　NORA
　　Therewasnosignfromhimself？
　　TRAMP
　　Nosignatall，ladyofthehouse。
　　NORA
　　{ToMicheal。}
　　Goovernowandpulldownthesheet，andlookonhimself，MichealDara，andyou’llseeit’sthetruthI’mtellingyou。
　　MICHEAL
　　Iwillnot，Nora，Idobeafeardofthedead。
　　{Hesitsdownonastoolnextthetablefacingthetramp。Noraputsthekettleonalowerhookofthepothooks，andpilesturfunderit。}
　　NORA
　　{TurningtoTramp。}
　　Willyoudrinkasupofteawithmyselfandtheyoungman，stranger，or{speakingmorepersuasively}willyougointothelittleroomandstretchyourselfashortwhileonthebed，I’mthinkingit’sdestroyedyouarewalkingthelengthofthatwayinthegreatrain。
　　TRAMP
　　Isittogoawayandleaveyou，andyouhavingawake，ladyofthehouse？Iwillnotsurely。{Hetakesadrinkfromhisglasswhichhehasbesidehim。}Andit’snoneofyourteaI’maskingeither。
　　{Hegoesonstitching。Noramakesthetea。}
　　MICHEAL
　　{Afterlookingatthetrampratherscornfullyforamoment。}
　　That’sapoorcoatyouhave，Godhelpyou，andI’mthinkingit’sapoortailoryouarewithit。
　　TRAMP
　　Ifit’sapoortailorIam，I’mthinkingit’sapoorherddoesberunningbackandforwardafteralittlehandfulofewesthewayI
　　seenyourselfrunningthisday，youngfellow，andyoucomingfromthefair。
　　{Noracomesbacktothetable。}
　　NORA
　　{ToMichealinalowvoice。}
　　Letyounotmindhimatall，MichealDara，hehasadroptakenandit’ssoonhe’llbefallingasleep。
　　MICHEAL
　　It’snoliehe’stelling，Iwasdestroyedsurely。Theywerethatwilfultheywererunningoffintooneman’sbitofoats，andanotherman’sbitofhay，andtumblingintotheredbogstillit’smorelikeapackofoldgoatsthansheeptheywere。
　　Mountainewesisaqueerbreed，NoraBurke，andI’mnotusedtothematall。
　　NORA
　　{Settlingtheteathings。}
　　There’snoonecandriveamountainewebutthemendoberearedintheGlenMalure，I’veheardthemsay，andabovebyRathvanna，andtheGlenImaal，menthelikeofPatchDarcy，Godsparehissoul，whowouldwalkthroughfivehundredsheepandmissoneofthem，andhenotreckoningthematall。
　　MICHEAL
　　{Uneasily。}
　　Isitthemanwentqueerinhisheadtheyearthat’sgone？
　　NORA
　　Itissurely。
　　TRAMP
　　{Plaintively。}
　　Thatwasagreatman，youngfellow，agreatmanI’mtellingyou。
　　Therewasneveralambfromhisowneweshewouldn’tknowbeforeitwasmarked，andhe’ldrunfromthistothecityofDublinandnevercatchforhisbreath。
　　NORA
　　{Turningroundquickly。}
　　Hewasagreatmansurely，stranger，andisn’titagrandthingwhenyouhearalivingmansayingagoodwordofadeadman，andhemaddying？
　　TRAMP
　　It’sthetruthI’msaying，Godsparehissoul。
　　{Heputstheneedleunderthecollarofhiscoat，andsettleshimselftosleepinthechimney—corner。Norasitsdownatthetable;theirbacksareturnedtothebed。}
　　MICHEAL
　　{Lookingatherwithaqueerlook。}
　　Iheardtellthisday，NoraBurke，thatitwasonthepathbelowPatchDarcywouldbepassingupandpassingdown，andIheardthemsayhe’ldneverpastitnightormorningwithoutspeakingwithyourself。
　　NORA
　　{Inalowvoice。}
　　Itwasnolieyouheard，MichealDara。
　　MICHEAL
　　I’mthinkingit’sapowerofmenyou’reafterknowingifit’sinalonesomeplaceyouliveitself。
　　NORA
　　{Givinghimhistea。}
　　It’sinalonesomeplaceyoudohavetobetalkingwithsomeone，andlookingforsomeone，intheeveningoftheday，andifit’sapowerofmenI’mafterknowingtheywerefinemen，forIwasahardchildtoplease，andahardgirltoplease{shelooksathimalittlesternly}，andit’sahardwomanIamtopleasethisday，MichealDara，andit’snolieI’mtellingyou。
　　MICHEAL
　　{Lookingovertoseethatthetrampisasleep，andthenpointingtothedeadman。}
　　Wasitahardwomantopleaseyouwerewhenyoutookhimselfforyourman？
　　NORA
　　WhatwaywouldIliveandIanoldwomanifIdidn’tmarryamanwithabitofafarm，andcowsonit，andsheeponthebackhills？
　　MICHEAL
　　{Considering。}
　　That’strue，Nora，andmaybeit’snofoolyouwere，forthere’sgoodgrazingonit，ifitisalonesomeplace，andI’mthinkingit’sagoodsumhe’sleftbehind。
　　28
　　NORA
　　{Takingthestockingwithmoneyfromherpocket，andputtingitonthetable。}
　　IdobethinkinginthelongnightsitwasabigfoolIwasthattime，MichealDara，forwhatgoodisabitofafarmwithcowsonit，andsheeponthebackhills，whenyoudobesittinglookingoutfromadoorthelikeofthatdoor，andseeingnothingbutthemistsrollingdownthebog，andthemistsagain，andtheyrollingupthebog，andhearingnothingbutthewindcryingoutinthebitsofbrokentreeswereleftfromthegreatstorm，andthestreamsroaringwiththerain。
　　MICHEAL
　　{Lookingatheruneasily。}
　　Whatisitailsyou，thisnight，NoraBurke？I’veheardtellit’sthelikeofthattalkyoudohearfrommen，andtheyafterbeingagreatwhileonthebackhills。
　　NORA
　　{Puttingoutthemoneyonthetable。}
　　It’sabadnight，andawildnight，MichealDara，andisn’titagreatwhileIamatthefootofthebackhills，sittinguphereboilingfoodforhimself，andfoodforthebroodsow，andbakingacakewhenthenightfalls？{Sheputsupthemoney，listlessly，inlittlepilesonthetable。}Isn’titalongwhileIamsittinghereinthewinterandthesummer，andthefinespring，withtheyounggrowingbehindmeandtheoldpassing，sayingtomyselfonetime，tolookonMaryBrienwhowasn’tthatheight{holdingoutherhand}，andIafinegirlgrowingup，andtheresheisnowwithtwochildren，andanothercomingonherinthreemonthsorfour。{Shepauses。}
　　MICHEAL
　　{Movingoverthreeofthepiles。}
　　That’sthreepoundswehavenow，NoraBurke。
　　NORA
　　{Continuinginthesamevoice。}
　　Andsayingtomyselfanothertime，tolookonPeggyCavanagh，whohadthelightesthandatmilkingacowthatwouldn’tbeeasy，orturningacake，andtheresheisnowwalkingroundontheroads，orsittinginadirtyoldhouse，withnoteethinhermouth，andnosenseandnomorehairthanyou’ldseeonabitofahillandtheyafterburningthefurzefromit。
　　MICHEAL
　　That’sfivepoundsandtennotes，agoodsum，surely！……It’snotthatwayyou’llbetalkingwhenyoumarryayoungman，NoraBurke，andtheyweresayinginthefairmylambswerethebestlambs，andIgotagrandprice，forI’mnofoolnowatmakingabargainwhenmylambsaregood。
　　NORA
　　Whatwasityougot？
　　MICHEAL
　　Twentypoundforthelot，NoraBurke……We’lddorighttowaitnowtillhimselfwillbequietawhileintheSevenChurches，andthenyou’llmarrymeinthechapelofRathvanna，andI’llbringthesheepuponthebitofahillyouhaveonthebackmountain，andwewon’thaveanythingwe’ldbeafeardtoletourmindsonwhenthemistisdown。
　　NORA
　　{Pouringhimoutsomewhisky。}
　　WhywouldImarryyou，MikeDara？You’llbegettingoldandI’llbegettingold，andinalittlewhileI’mtellingyou，you’llbesittingupinyourbed——thewayhimselfwassitting——withashakeinyourface，andyourteethfalling，andthewhitehairstickingoutroundyoulikeanoldbushwheresheepdobeleapingagap。
　　{DanBurkesitsupnoiselesslyfromunderthesheet，withhishandtohisface。Hiswhitehairisstickingoutroundhishead。}
　　NORA
　　{Goesonslowlywithouthearinghim。}
　　It’sapitifulthingtobegettingold，butit’saqueerthingsurely。It’saqueerthingtoseeanoldmansittingupthereinhisbedwithnoteethinhim，andaroughwordinhismouth，andhischinthewayitwouldtakethebarkfromtheedgeofanoakboardyou’ldhavebuildingadoor……Godforgiveme，MichealDara，we’llallbegettingold，butit’saqueerthingsurely。
　　MICHEAL
　　It’stoolonesomeyouarefromlivingalongtimewithanoldman，Nora，andyou’retalkingagainlikeaherdthatwouldbecomingdownfromthethickmist{heputshisarmroundher}，butit’safinelifeyou’llhavenowwithayoungman，afinelifesurely……
　　{Dansneezesviolently。Michealtriestogettothedoor，butbeforehecandoso，Danjumpsoutofthebedinqueerwhiteclothes，withhisstickinhishand，andgoesoverandputshisbackagainstit。}
　　MICHEAL
　　SonofGoddeliverus。
　　{Crosseshimself，andgoesbackwardacrosstheroom。}
　　DAN
　　{Holdinguphishandathim。}
　　Nowyou’llnotmarryherthetimeI’mrottingbelowintheSevenChurches，andyou’llseethethingI’llgiveyouwillfollowyouonthebackmountainswhenthewindishigh。
　　MICHEAL
　　{ToNora。}
　　Getmeoutofit，Nora，fortheloveofGod。Healwaysdidwhatyoubidhim，andI’mthinkinghewoulddoitnow。
　　NORA
　　{LookingattheTramp。}
　　Isitdeadheisorliving？
　　DAN
　　{Turningtowardsher。}
　　It’slittleyoucareifit’sdeadorlivingIam，butthere’llbeanendnowofyourfinetimes，andallthetalkyouhaveofyoungmenandoldmen，andofthemistcominguporgoingdown。{Heopensthedoor。}You’llwalkoutnowfromthatdoor，NoraBurke，andit’snotto—morrow，orthenextday，oranydayofyourlife，thatyou’llputinyourfootthroughitagain。
　　TRAMP
　　{Standingup。}
　　It’sahardthingyou’resayingforanoldman，masterofthehouse，andwhatwouldthelikeofherdoifyouputheroutontheroads？
　　DAN
　　LetherwalkroundthelikeofPeggyCavanaghbelow，andbebeggingmoneyatthecross—road，orsellingsongstothemen。
　　{ToNora。}Walkoutnow，NoraBurke，andit’ssoonyou’llbegettingoldwiththatlife，I’mtellingyou;it’ssoonyourteeth’llbefallingandyourhead’llbethelikeofabushwheresheepdobeleapingagap。
　　{Hepauses:shelooksroundatMicheal。}
　　MICHEAL
　　{Timidly。}
　　There’safineUnionbelowinRathdrum。
　　DAN
　　Thelikeofherwouldnevergothere……It’slonesomeroadsshe’llbegoingandhidingherselfawaytilltheendwillcome，andtheyfindherstretchedlikeadeadsheepwiththefrostonher，orthebigspiders，maybe，andtheyputtingtheirwebsonher，inthebuttofaditch。
　　NORA
　　{Angrily。}
　　Whatwaywillyourselfbethatday，DanielBurke？Whatwaywillyoubethatdayandyoulyingdownalongwhileinyourgrave？
　　Forit’sbadyouareliving，andit’sbadyou’llbewhenyou’redead。{Shelooksathimamomentfiercely，thenhalfturnsawayandspeaksplaintivelyagain。}Yet，ifitisitself，DanielBurke，whocanhelpitatall，andletyoubegettingupintoyourbed，andnotbetakingyourdeathwiththewindblowingonyou，andtherainwithit，andyouhalfinyourskin。
　　DAN
　　It’sproudandhappyyou’ldbeifIwasgettingmydeaththedayIwasshutofyourself。{Pointingtothedoor。}Letyouwalkoutthroughthatdoor，I’mtellingyou，andletyounotbepassingthiswayifit’shungryyouare，orwantingabed。
　　TRAMP
　　{PointingtoMicheal。}
　　Maybehimselfwouldtakeher。
　　NORA
　　Whatwouldhedowithmenow？
　　TRAMP
　　Giveyouthehalfofadrybed，andgoodfoodinyourmouth。
　　DAN
　　Isitafoolyouthinkhim，stranger，orisitafoolyouwerebornyourself？Letherwalkoutofthatdoor，andletyougoalongwithher，stranger——ifit’srainingitself——forit’stoomuchtalkyouhavesurely。
　　TRAMP
　　{GoingovertoNora。}
　　We’llbegoingnow，ladyofthehouse——therainisfalling，buttheairiskindandmaybeit’llbeagrandmorningbythegraceofGod。
　　NORA
　　WhatgoodisagrandmorningwhenI’mdestroyedsurely，andI
　　goingouttogetmydeathwalkingtheroads？
　　TRAMP
　　You’llnotbegettingyourdeathwithmyself，ladyofthehouse，andIknowingallthewaysamancanputfoodinhismouth……
　　We’llbegoingnow，I’mtellingyou，andthetimeyou’llbefeelingthecold，andthefrost，andthegreatrain，andthesunagain，andthesouthwindblowingintheglens，you’llnotbesittinguponawetditch，thewayyou’reaftersittingintheplace，makingyourselfoldwithlookingoneachday，anditpassingyouby。You’llbesayingonetime，"It’sagrandevening，bythegraceofGod，"andanothertime，"It’sawildnight，Godhelpus，butit’llpasssurely。"You’llbesaying——
　　DAN
　　{Goesovertothemcryingoutimpatiently。}
　　Gooutofthatdoor，I’mtellingyou，anddoyourblatheringbelowintheglen。
　　{Noragathersafewthingsintohershawl。}
　　TRAMP
　　{Atthedoor。}
　　Comealongwithmenow，ladyofthehouse，andit’snotmyblatheryou’llbehearingonly，butyou’llbehearingtheheronscryingoutovertheblacklakes，andyou’llbehearingthegrouseandtheowlswiththem，andthelarksandthebigthrusheswhenthedaysarewarm，andit’snotfromthelikeofthemyou’llbehearingatalkofgettingoldlikePeggyCavanagh，andlosingthehairoffyou，andthelightofyoureyes，butit’sfinesongsyou’llbehearingwhenthesungoesup，andthere’llbenooldfellowwheezing，thelikeofasicksheep，closetoyourear。
　　NORA
　　I’mthinkingit’smyselfwillbewheezingthattimewithlyingdownundertheHeavenswhenthenightiscold;butyou’veafinebitoftalk，stranger，andit’swithyourselfI’llgo。
　　{Shegoestowardsthedoor，thenturnstoDan。}Youthinkit’sagrandthingyou’reafterdoingwithyourlettingontobedead，butwhatisitatall？Whatwaywouldawomanliveinalonesomeplacethelikeofthisplace，andshenotmakingatalkwiththemenpassing？Andwhatwaywillyourselflivefromthisday，withnonetocareforyou？Whatisityou’llhavenowbutablacklife，DanielBurke，andit’snotlongI’mtellingyou，tillyou’llbelyingagainunderthatsheet，andyoudeadsurely。
　　{ShegoesoutwiththeTramp。Michealisslinkingafterthem，butDanstopshim。}
　　DAN
　　Sitdownnowandtakealittletasteofthestuff，MichealDara。
　　There’sagreatdrouthonme，andthenightisyoung。
　　MICHEAL
　　{Comingbacktothetable。}
　　Andit’sverydryIam，surely，withthefearofdeathyouputonme，andIafterdrivingmountainewessincetheturnoftheday。
　　DAN
　　{Throwingawayhisstick。}
　　Iwasthinkingtostrikeyou，MichealDara，butyou’reaquietman，Godhelpyou，andIdon’tmindyouatall。
　　{Hepoursouttwoglassesofwhisky，andgivesonetoMicheal。}
　　DAN
　　Yourgoodhealth，MichealDara。
　　MICHEAL
　　Godrewardyou，DanielBurke，andmayyouhavealonglife，andaquietlife，andgoodhealthwithit。
　　{Theydrink。}
　　CURTAIN。