[_Cheers._]

PATRICK [_turning round from the window_]. They are cheering again
down in the town. Maybe they are landing horses from Enniscrone. They
do be cheering when the horses take the water well.

MICHAEL. There are no horses in it. Where would they be going and no
fair at hand? Go down to the town, Patrick, and see what is going on.

PATRICK [_opens the door to go out, but stops for a moment on the
threshold_]. Will Delia remember, do you think, to bring the greyhound
pup she promised me when she would be coming to the house?

MICHAEL. She will surely.

[PATRICK _goes out, leaving the door open._]

PETER. It will be Patrick's turn next to be looking for a fortune, but
he won't find it so easy to get it and he with no place of his own.

BRIDGET. I do be thinking sometimes, now things are going so well with
us, and the Cahels such a good back to us in the district, and Delia's
own uncle a priest, we might be put in the way of making Patrick a
priest some day, and he so good at his books.

PETER. Time enough, time enough; you have always your head full of
plans, Bridget.

BRIDGET. We will be well able to give him learning, and not to send him
trampling the country like a poor scholar that lives on charity.

[_Cheers._]

MICHAEL. They're not done cheering yet.

[_He goes over to the door and stands there for a moment,
putting up his hand to shade his eyes._]

BRIDGET. Do you see anything?

MICHAEL. I see an old woman coming up the path.

BRIDGET. Who is it, I wonder. It must be the strange woman Patrick saw
awhile ago.

MICHAEL. I don't think it's one of the neighbours anyway, but she has
her cloak over her face.

BRIDGET. It might be some poor woman heard we were making ready for the
wedding and came to look for her share.

PETER. I may as well put the money out of sight. There is no use
leaving it out for every stranger to look at.

[_He goes over to a large box in the corner, opens it, and
puts the bag in and fumbles at the lock._]

MICHAEL. There she is, father! [_An_ Old Woman _passes the window
slowly; she looks at_ MICHAEL _as she passes._] I'd sooner a stranger
not to come to the house the night before my wedding.

BRIDGET. Open the door, Michael; don't keep the poor woman waiting.

[_The_ OLD WOMAN _comes in._ MICHAEL _stands aside to make
way for her._]

OLD WOMAN. God save all here!

PETER