INTHESHADOWOFTHEGLEN
APLAYINONEACT
FirstperformedattheMolesworthHall，Dublin，October8th，1903。
PERSONS
DANBURKE（farmerandherd）。GeorgeRobertsNORABURKE（hiswife）……MaireNicShiubhlaighMICHEALDARA（ayoungherd）。P。J。KellyATRAMP……W。G。FayINTHESHADOWOFTHEGLEN
APLAYINONEACT
SCENE。——{ThelastcottageattheheadofalonggleninCountyWicklow。
Cottagekitchen;turffireontheright;abednearitagainstthewallwithabodylyingonitcoveredwithasheet。Adoorisattheotherendoftheroom，withalowtablenearit，andstools，orwoodenchairs。Thereareacoupleofglassesonthetable，andabottleofwhisky，asifforawake，withtwocups，ateapot，andahome—madecake。Thereisanothersmalldoornearthebed。NoraBurkeismovingabouttheroom，settlingafewthings，andlightingcandlesonthetable，lookingnowandthenatthebedwithanuneasylook。Someoneknockssoftlyatthedoor。Shetakesupastockingwithmoneyfromthetableandputsitinherpocket。Thensheopensthedoor。}
TRAMP
{Outside。}
Goodeveningtoyou，ladyofthehouse。
NORA
Goodevening，kindlystranger，it’sawildnight，Godhelpyou，tobeoutintherainfalling。
TRAMP
Itis，surely，andIwalkingtoBrittasfromtheAughrimfair。
NORA
Isitwalkingonyourfeet，stranger？
TRAMP
Onmytwofeet，ladyofthehouse，andwhenIsawthelightbelowIthoughtmaybeifyou’dasupofnewmilkandaquietdecentcornerwhereamancouldsleep{helooksinpastherandseesthedeadman。}TheLordhavemercyonusall！
NORA
Itdoesn’tmatteranyway，stranger，comeinoutoftherain。
TRAMP
{Cominginslowlyandgoingtowardsthebed。}
Isitdepartedheis？
NORA
Itis，stranger。He’safterdyingonme，Godforgivehim，andthereIamnowwithahundredsheepbeyondonthehills，andnoturndrawnforthewinter。
TRAMP
{Lookingcloselyatthedeadman。}
It’saqueerlookisonhimforamanthat’sdead。
NORA
{Half—humorously。}
Hewasalwaysqueer，stranger，andIsupposethemthat’squeerandtheylivingmenwillbequeerbodiesafter。
TRAMP
Isn’titagreatwonderyou’relettinghimliethere，andheisnottidied，orlaidoutitself？
NORA
{Comingtothebed。}
Iwasafeard，stranger，forheputablackcurseonmethismorningifI’ldtouchhisbodythetimehe’lddiesudden，orletanyonetouchitexcepthissisteronly，andit’stenmilesawayshelivesinthebigglenoverthehill。
TRAMP
{Lookingatherandnoddingslowly。}
It’saqueerstoryhewouldn’tlethisownwifetouchhim，andhedyingquietinhisbed。
NORA
Hewasanoldman，andanoddman，stranger，andit’salwaysuponthehillshewasthinkingthoughtsinthedarkmist。{Shepullsbackabitofthesheet。}Layyourhandonhimnow，andtellmeifit’scoldheissurely。
TRAMP
Isitgettingthecurseonmeyou’ldbe，womanofthehouse？I
wouldn’tlaymyhandonhimfortheLoughNahanagananditfilledwithgold。
NORA
{Lookinguneasilyatthebody。}
Maybecoldwouldbenosignofdeathwiththelikeofhim，forhewasalwayscold，everydaysinceIknewhim，——andeverynight，stranger，——{shecoversuphisfaceandcomesawayfromthebed};butI’mthinkingit’sdeadheissurely，forhe’scomplainingawhilebackofapaininhisheart，andthismorning，thetimehewasgoingofftoBrittasforthreedaysorfour，hewastakenwithasharpturn。Thenhewentintohisbedandhewassayingitwasdestroyedhewas，thetimetheshadowwasgoingupthroughtheglen，andwhenthesunsetonthebogbeyondhemadeagreatlep，andletagreatcryoutofhim，andstiffenedhimselfoutthelikeofadeadsheep。
TRAMP
{Crosseshimself。}
Godresthissoul。
NORA
{Pouringhimoutaglassofwhisky。}
MaybethatwoulddoyoubetterthanthemilkofthesweetestcowinCountyWicklow。
TRAMP
TheAlmightyGodrewardyou，andmayitbetoyourgoodhealth。
{Hedrinks。}
NORA
{Givinghimapipeandtobacco。}
I’venopipessavinghisown，stranger，butthey’resweetpipestosmoke。
TRAMP
Thankyoukindly，ladyofthehouse。
NORA
Sitdownnow，stranger，andbetakingyourrest。
TRAMP
{Fillingapipeandlookingabouttheroom。}
I’vewalkedagreatwaythroughtheworld，ladyofthehouse，andseengreatwonders，butIneverseenawaketillthisdaywithfinespirits，andgoodtobacco，andthebestofpipes，andnoonetotastethembutawomanonly。
NORA
Didn’tyouhearmesayitwasonlyafterdyingonmehewaswhenthesunwentdown，andhowwouldIgooutintotheglenandtelltheneighbours，andIalonewomanwithnohousenearme？
TRAMP
{Drinking。}
There’snooffence，ladyofthehouse？
NORA
Nooffenceinlife，stranger。Howwouldthelikeofyou，passinginthedarknight，knowthelonesomewayIwaswithnohousenearmeatall？
TRAMP
{Sittingdown。}
Iknewrightly。{Helightshispipesothatthereisasharplightbeneathhishaggardface。}AndIwasthinking，andI
cominginthroughthedoor，thatit’smanyalonewomanwouldbeafeardofthelikeofmeinthedarknight，inaplacewouldn’tbesolonesomeasthisplace，wheretherearen’ttwolivingsoulswouldseethelittlelightyouhaveshiningfromtheglass。
NORA
{Slowly。}
I’mthinkingmanywouldbeafeard，butIneverknewwhatwayI’dbeafeardofbeggarorbishoporanymanofyouatall。{Shelookstowardsthewindowandlowershervoice。}It’sotherthingsthanthelikeofyou，stranger，wouldmakeapersonafeard。
TRAMP
{Lookingroundwithahalf—shudder。}
Itissurely，Godhelpusall！
NORA
{Lookingathimforamomentwithcuriosity。}
You’resayingthat，stranger，asifyouwereeasyafeard。
TRAMP
{Speakingmournfully。}
Isitmyself，ladyofthehouse，thatdoesbewalkingroundinthelongnights，andcrossingthehillswhenthefogisonthem，thetimealittlestickwouldseemasbigasyourarm，andarabbitasbigasabayhorse，andastackofturfasbigasatoweringchurchinthecityofDublin？Ifmyselfwaseasilyafeard，I’mtellingyou，it’slongagoI’ldhavebeenlockedintotheRichmondAsylum，ormaybehaverunupintothebackhillswithnothingonmebutanoldshirt，andbeeneatenwithcrowsthelikeofPatchDarcy——theLordhavemercyonhim——intheyearthat’sgone。
NORA
{Withinterest。}
YouknewDarcy？
TRAMP
Wasn’tIthelastoneheardhislivingvoiceinthewholeworld？
NORA
Thereweregreatstoriesofwhatwasheardatthattime，butwouldanyonebelievethethingstheydobesayingintheglen？
TRAMP
Itwasnolie，ladyofthehouse……Iwaspassingbelowonadarknightthelikeofthisnight，andthesheepwerelyingundertheditchandeveryoneofthemcoughing，andchoking，likeanoldman，withthegreatrainandthefog。ThenIheardathingtalking——queertalk，youwouldn’tbelieveatall，andyououtofyourdreams，——and\"MercifulGod，\"saysI，\"ifIbeginhearingthelikeofthatvoiceoutofthethickmist，I’mdestroyedsurely。\"ThenIrun，andIrun，andIrun，tillIwasbelowinRathvanna。Igotdrunkthatnight，Igotdrunkinthemorning，anddrunkthedayafter，——Iwascomingfromtheracesbeyond——andthethirddaytheyfoundDarcy……ThenIknewitwashimselfIwasafterhearing，andIwasn’tafeardanymore。
NORA
{Speakingsorrowfullyandslowly。}
GodspareDarcy，he’ldalwayslookinhereandhepassinguporpassingdown，andit’sverylonesomeIwasafterhimalongwhile{shelooksoveratthebedandlowershervoice，speakingveryclearly，}andthenIgothappyagain——ifit’severhappyweare，stranger，——forIgotusedtobeinglonesome。
{Ashortpause;thenshestandsup。}
NORA
Wasthereanyoneonthelastbitoftheroad，stranger，andyoucomingfromAughrim？
TRAMP
Therewasayoungmanwithadriftofmountainewes，andherunningafterthemthiswayandthat。
NORA
{Withahalf—smile。}
Fardown，stranger？
TRAMP
Apieceonly。
{Shefillsthekettleandputsitonthefire。}
NORA
Maybe，ifyou’renoteasyafeard，you’ldstayhereashortwhilealonewithhimself。
TRAMP
Iwouldsurely。Amanthat’sdeadcandonohurt。
NORA
{Speakingwithasortofconstraint。}
I’mgoingalittlebacktothewest，stranger，forhimselfwouldgothereonenightandanotherandwhistleatthatplace，andthentheyoungmanyou’reafterseeing——akindofafarmerhascomeupfromtheseatoliveinacottagebeyond——wouldwalkroundtoseeiftherewasathingwe’ldhavetobedone，andI’mwantinghimthisnight，thewayhecangodownintotheglenwhenthesungoesupandtellthepeoplethathimselfisdead。
TRAMP
{Lookingatthebodyinthesheet。}
It’smyselfwillgoforhim，ladyofthehouse，andletyounotbedestroyingyourselfwiththegreatrain。
NORA
Youwouldn’tfindyourway，stranger，forthere’sasmallpathonly，anditrunningupbetweentwosluigswhereanassandcartwouldbedrowned。{Sheputsashawloverherhead。}Letyoubemakingyourselfeasy，andsayingaprayerforhissoul，andit’snotlongI’llbecomingagain。
TRAMP
{Movinguneasily。}
Maybeifyou’dapieceofagreythreadandasharpneedle——
there’sgreatsafetyinaneedle，ladyofthehouse——I’ldbeputtingalittlestitchhereandthereinmyoldcoat，thetimeI’llbeprayingforhissoul，anditgoingupnakedtothesaintsofGod。
NORA
{Takesaneedleandthreadfromthefrontofherdressandgivesittohim。}
There’stheneedle，stranger，andI’mthinkingyouwon’tbelonesome，andyouusedtothebackhills，forisn’tadeadmanitselfmorecompanythantobesittingalone，andhearingthewindscrying，andyounotknowingonwhatthingyourmindwouldstay？
TRAMP
{Slowly。}
It’strue，surely，andtheLordhavemercyonusall！
{Noragoesout。TheTrampbeginsstitchingoneofthetagsinhiscoat，sayingthe\"DeProfundis\"underhisbreath。Inaninstantthesheetisdrawnslowlydown，andDanBurkelooksout。
TheTrampmovesuneasily，thenlooksup，andspringstohisfeetwithamovementofterror。}
DAN
{Withahoarsevoice。}
Don’tbeafeard，stranger;amanthat’sdeadcandonohurt。
TRAMP
{Trembling。}
Imeantnoharm，yourhonour;andwon’tyouleavemeeasytobesayingalittleprayerforyoursoul？
{Alongwhistleisheardoutside。}
DAN
{Sittingupinhisbedandspeakingfiercely。}
Ah，thedevilmendher……Doyouhearthat，stranger？Dideveryouhearanotherwomancouldwhistlethelikeofthatwithtwofingersinhermouth？{Helooksatthetablehurriedly。}
I’mdestroyedwiththedrouth，andletyoubringmeadropquicklybeforeherselfwillcomeback。
TRAMP
{Doubtfully。}
Isitnotdeadyouare？
DAN
HowwouldIbedead，andIasdryasabakedbone，stranger？
TRAMP
{Pouringoutthewhisky。}
Whatwillherselfsayifshesmellsthestuffonyou，forI’mthinkingit’snotfornothingyou’relettingontobedead？
DAN
Itisnot，stranger，butshewon’tbecomingnearmeatall，andit’snotlongnowI’llbelettingon，forI’veacrampinmyback，andmyhip’sasleeponme，andthere’sbeenthedevil’sownflyitchingmynose。It’sneardeadIwaswantingtosneeze，andyoublatheringabouttherain，andDarcy{bitterly}——thedevilchokehim——andthetoweringchurch。{Cryingoutimpatiently。}
Givemethatwhisky。WouldyouhaveherselfcomebackbeforeI
tasteadropatall？
{Trampgiveshimtheglass。}
DAN
{Afterdrinking。}
Goovernowtothatcupboard，andbringmeablackstickyou’llseeinthewestcornerbythewall。
TRAMP
{Takingastickfromthecupboard}
Isitthat？
DAN
Itis，stranger;it’salongtimeI’mkeepingthatstickforI’veabadwifeinthehouse。
TRAMP
{Withaqueerlook。}
Isitherself，masterofthehouse，andsheagrandwomantotalk？
DAN
It’sherself，surely，it’sabadwifesheis——abadwifeforanoldman，andI’mgettingold，Godhelpme，thoughI’veanarmtomestill。{Hetakesthestickinhishand。}Letyouwaitnowashortwhile，andit’sagreatsightyou’llseeinthisroomintwohoursorthree。{Hestopstolisten。}Isthatsomebodyabove？
TRAMP
{Listening。}
There’savoicespeakingonthepath。
DAN
Putthatstickhereinthebedandsmooththesheetthewayitwaslying。{Hecovershimselfuphastily。}Befallingtosleepnowanddon’tletonyouknowanything，orI’llbehavingyourlife。Iwouldn’thavetoldyouatallbutit’sdestroyedwiththedrouthIwas。
TRAMP
{Coveringhishead。}
Havenofear，masterofthehouse。WhatisitIknowofthelikeofyouthatI’ldbesayingawordorputtingoutmyhandtostayyouatall？
{Hegoesbacktothefire，sitsdownonastoolwithhisbacktothebedandgoesonstitchinghiscoat。}
DAN
{Underthesheet，querulously。}
Stranger。
TRAMP
{Quickly。}
Whisht，whisht。BequietI’mtellingyou，they’recomingnowatthedoor。
{NoracomesinwithMichealDara，atall，innocentyoungmanbehindher。}