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 min