't here before this.

_Anne rises. Maire comes in_.

ANNE
Is there no one coming here?

MAIRE
There is no one on the road.

ANNE
Brian MacConnell is late in coming.

_Maire comes up to the fire. Anne stands with her. James goes to
entrance, and remains looking out_.

MAIRE
I saw Brian yesterday.

ANNE
And did you tell him that you were going at the sunset?

MAIRE
I told him we were going in the evening.

ANNE
Maybe you were distant with Brian?

MAIRE
He looked like a man that something had happened to. Connor
Gilpatrick came up, and then I went away.

_Conn Hourican comes out of room. He has left the greatcoat in room.
He brings the fiddle with him. Maire and Anne go to the settle. They
talk._

JAMES
_(to Conn)_ What would you think of a row of trees planted
before the door?

_Conn leaves fiddle on dresser, and comes to him_.

CONN
They might be very becoming, James.

JAMES
My father was saying that the front looked very bare.

CONN
A row of trees, when they'd grow, would make a great difference.

JAMES
That's what my father was saying.

_They talk, Conn leaning on the half-door._

ANNE
I'm glad to be here. It would be very strange for me to be
married, and in another house.

MAIRE
I was thinking, Anne, that father and myself ought to stay a
while on the road, till you and James get settled here.

ANNE
Listen, Maire. James says that he'll be giving this place back
to you after a while. With this start he'll be able to get a house
and land near his father's place. He has fine schemes for making
this place prosperous. James, come here. _(James turns from door)_
Come here, James, and talk with Maire.

_James comes to girls, leaving Conn looking out. Maire rises._

JAMES
I'll make a path down to the road, and, with a row of trees
before the door, the place will be well worth looking at.

MAIRE
We won't know the place after a while.

JAMES
We can never forget, Maire, that it is to you that we owe the
place and the start in life.

MAIRE
I never looked on the place as my own.

JAMES
And now that the land is in Anne's name, my father will be
glad to stock the place.

MAIRE
You have all our will of the place. Father, speak to James and
tell him that he has your will of the place.

CONN
_(turning from door)_ Indeed you have, James, and we're overglad
to have Anne settled with a steady boy.

JAMES
Well, long life to you, Conn; and may the man of art n