have. It is not in this place we will be waking him. I'll make a
call to the two hundred Ribbons he was to lead on to the attack on the
barracks at Aughanish. They will bring him marching to his grave upon
the hill. He had surely some gift from the other world, I wouldn't say
but he had power from the other side.

ANDREW [_coming in, very shaky_]. Well, it was a great night he gave
to the village, and it is long till it will be forgotten. I tell you
the whole of the neighbours are up against him. There is no one at all
this morning to set the mills going. There was no bread baked in the
night-time; the horses are not fed in the stalls; the cows are not
milked in the sheds. I met no man able to make a curse this night but
he put it on my own head and on the head of the boy that is lying there
before us.... Is there no sign of life in him at all?

JOHNNY B. What way would there be a sign of life and the life gone out
of him this three hours or more?

ANDREW. He was lying in his sleep for a while yesterday, and he wakened
again after another while.

NANNY. He will not waken. I tell you I held his hand in my own and it
getting cold as if you were pouring on it the coldest cold water, and
no running in his blood. He is gone sure enough, and the life is gone
out of him.

ANDREW. Maybe so, maybe so. It seems to me yesterday his cheeks were
bloomy all the while, and now he is as pale as wood-ashes. Sure we all
must come to it at the last. Well, my white-headed darling, it is you
were the bush among us all, and you to be cut down in your prime.
Gentle and simple, everyone liked you. It is no narrow heart you had;
it is you were for spending and not for getting. It is you made a good
wake for yourself, scattering your estate in one night only in beer and
in wine for the whole province; and that you may be sitting in the
middle of paradise and in the chair of the graces!

JOHNNY B. Amen to that. It's pity I didn't think the time I sent for
yourself to send the little lad of a messenger looking for a priest to
overtake him. It might be in the end the Almighty is the best man for
us all!

ANDREW. Sure I sent him on myself to bid the priest to come. Living or
dead, I would wish to do all that is rightful for the last and the best
of my own race and generation.

BIDDY [_jumping up_]. Is it the priest you are bringing in among us?
Where is the sense in that? Aren't we robbed enough up to this with the
expense of the candles