NORA
Iwasn’tlongatall，stranger，forImethimselfonthepath。
TRAMP
Youweremiddlinglong，ladyofthehouse。
NORA
Therewasnosignfromhimself？
TRAMP
Nosignatall，ladyofthehouse。
NORA
{ToMicheal。}
Goovernowandpulldownthesheet，andlookonhimself，MichealDara，andyou’llseeit’sthetruthI’mtellingyou。
MICHEAL
Iwillnot，Nora，Idobeafeardofthedead。
{Hesitsdownonastoolnextthetablefacingthetramp。Noraputsthekettleonalowerhookofthepothooks，andpilesturfunderit。}
NORA
{TurningtoTramp。}
Willyoudrinkasupofteawithmyselfandtheyoungman，stranger，or{speakingmorepersuasively}willyougointothelittleroomandstretchyourselfashortwhileonthebed，I’mthinkingit’sdestroyedyouarewalkingthelengthofthatwayinthegreatrain。
TRAMP
Isittogoawayandleaveyou，andyouhavingawake，ladyofthehouse？Iwillnotsurely。{Hetakesadrinkfromhisglasswhichhehasbesidehim。}Andit’snoneofyourteaI’maskingeither。
{Hegoesonstitching。Noramakesthetea。}
MICHEAL
{Afterlookingatthetrampratherscornfullyforamoment。}
That’sapoorcoatyouhave，Godhelpyou，andI’mthinkingit’sapoortailoryouarewithit。
TRAMP
Ifit’sapoortailorIam，I’mthinkingit’sapoorherddoesberunningbackandforwardafteralittlehandfulofewesthewayI
seenyourselfrunningthisday，youngfellow，andyoucomingfromthefair。
{Noracomesbacktothetable。}
NORA
{ToMichealinalowvoice。}
Letyounotmindhimatall，MichealDara，hehasadroptakenandit’ssoonhe’llbefallingasleep。
MICHEAL
It’snoliehe’stelling，Iwasdestroyedsurely。Theywerethatwilfultheywererunningoffintooneman’sbitofoats，andanotherman’sbitofhay，andtumblingintotheredbogstillit’smorelikeapackofoldgoatsthansheeptheywere。
Mountainewesisaqueerbreed，NoraBurke，andI’mnotusedtothematall。
NORA
{Settlingtheteathings。}
There’snoonecandriveamountainewebutthemendoberearedintheGlenMalure，I’veheardthemsay，andabovebyRathvanna，andtheGlenImaal，menthelikeofPatchDarcy，Godsparehissoul，whowouldwalkthroughfivehundredsheepandmissoneofthem，andhenotreckoningthematall。
MICHEAL
{Uneasily。}
Isitthemanwentqueerinhisheadtheyearthat’sgone？
NORA
Itissurely。
TRAMP
{Plaintively。}
Thatwasagreatman，youngfellow，agreatmanI’mtellingyou。
Therewasneveralambfromhisowneweshewouldn’tknowbeforeitwasmarked，andhe’ldrunfromthistothecityofDublinandnevercatchforhisbreath。
NORA
{Turningroundquickly。}
Hewasagreatmansurely，stranger，andisn’titagrandthingwhenyouhearalivingmansayingagoodwordofadeadman，andhemaddying？
TRAMP
It’sthetruthI’msaying，Godsparehissoul。
{Heputstheneedleunderthecollarofhiscoat，andsettleshimselftosleepinthechimney—corner。Norasitsdownatthetable;theirbacksareturnedtothebed。}
MICHEAL
{Lookingatherwithaqueerlook。}
Iheardtellthisday，NoraBurke，thatitwasonthepathbelowPatchDarcywouldbepassingupandpassingdown，andIheardthemsayhe’ldneverpastitnightormorningwithoutspeakingwithyourself。
NORA
{Inalowvoice。}
Itwasnolieyouheard，MichealDara。
MICHEAL
I’mthinkingit’sapowerofmenyou’reafterknowingifit’sinalonesomeplaceyouliveitself。
NORA
{Givinghimhistea。}
It’sinalonesomeplaceyoudohavetobetalkingwithsomeone，andlookingforsomeone，intheeveningoftheday，andifit’sapowerofmenI’mafterknowingtheywerefinemen，forIwasahardchildtoplease，andahardgirltoplease{shelooksathimalittlesternly}，andit’sahardwomanIamtopleasethisday，MichealDara，andit’snolieI’mtellingyou。
MICHEAL
{Lookingovertoseethatthetrampisasleep，andthenpointingtothedeadman。}
Wasitahardwomantopleaseyouwerewhenyoutookhimselfforyourman？
NORA
WhatwaywouldIliveandIanoldwomanifIdidn’tmarryamanwithabitofafarm，andcowsonit，andsheeponthebackhills？
MICHEAL
{Considering。}
That’strue，Nora，andmaybeit’snofoolyouwere，forthere’sgoodgrazingonit，ifitisalonesomeplace，andI’mthinkingit’sagoodsumhe’sleftbehind。
28
NORA
{Takingthestockingwithmoneyfromherpocket，andputtingitonthetable。}
IdobethinkinginthelongnightsitwasabigfoolIwasthattime，MichealDara，forwhatgoodisabitofafarmwithcowsonit，andsheeponthebackhills，whenyoudobesittinglookingoutfromadoorthelikeofthatdoor，andseeingnothingbutthemistsrollingdownthebog，andthemistsagain，andtheyrollingupthebog，andhearingnothingbutthewindcryingoutinthebitsofbrokentreeswereleftfromthegreatstorm，andthestreamsroaringwiththerain。
MICHEAL
{Lookingatheruneasily。}
Whatisitailsyou，thisnight，NoraBurke？I’veheardtellit’sthelikeofthattalkyoudohearfrommen，andtheyafterbeingagreatwhileonthebackhills。
NORA
{Puttingoutthemoneyonthetable。}
It’sabadnight，andawildnight，MichealDara，andisn’titagreatwhileIamatthefootofthebackhills，sittinguphereboilingfoodforhimself，andfoodforthebroodsow，andbakingacakewhenthenightfalls？{Sheputsupthemoney，listlessly，inlittlepilesonthetable。}Isn’titalongwhileIamsittinghereinthewinterandthesummer，andthefinespring，withtheyounggrowingbehindmeandtheoldpassing，sayingtomyselfonetime，tolookonMaryBrienwhowasn’tthatheight{holdingoutherhand}，andIafinegirlgrowingup，andtheresheisnowwithtwochildren，andanothercomingonherinthreemonthsorfour。{Shepauses。}
MICHEAL
{Movingoverthreeofthepiles。}
That’sthreepoundswehavenow，NoraBurke。
NORA
{Continuinginthesamevoice。}
Andsayingtomyselfanothertime，tolookonPeggyCavanagh，whohadthelightesthandatmilkingacowthatwouldn’tbeeasy，orturningacake，andtheresheisnowwalkingroundontheroads，orsittinginadirtyoldhouse，withnoteethinhermouth，andnosenseandnomorehairthanyou’ldseeonabitofahillandtheyafterburningthefurzefromit。
MICHEAL
That’sfivepoundsandtennotes，agoodsum，surely！……It’snotthatwayyou’llbetalkingwhenyoumarryayoungman，NoraBurke，andtheyweresayinginthefairmylambswerethebestlambs，andIgotagrandprice，forI’mnofoolnowatmakingabargainwhenmylambsaregood。
NORA
Whatwasityougot？
MICHEAL
Twentypoundforthelot，NoraBurke……We’lddorighttowaitnowtillhimselfwillbequietawhileintheSevenChurches，andthenyou’llmarrymeinthechapelofRathvanna，andI’llbringthesheepuponthebitofahillyouhaveonthebackmountain，andwewon’thaveanythingwe’ldbeafeardtoletourmindsonwhenthemistisdown。
NORA
{Pouringhimoutsomewhisky。}
WhywouldImarryyou，MikeDara？You’llbegettingoldandI’llbegettingold，andinalittlewhileI’mtellingyou，you’llbesittingupinyourbed——thewayhimselfwassitting——withashakeinyourface，andyourteethfalling，andthewhitehairstickingoutroundyoulikeanoldbushwheresheepdobeleapingagap。
{DanBurkesitsupnoiselesslyfromunderthesheet，withhishandtohisface。Hiswhitehairisstickingoutroundhishead。}
NORA
{Goesonslowlywithouthearinghim。}
It’sapitifulthingtobegettingold，butit’saqueerthingsurely。It’saqueerthingtoseeanoldmansittingupthereinhisbedwithnoteethinhim，andaroughwordinhismouth，andhischinthewayitwouldtakethebarkfromtheedgeofanoakboardyou’ldhavebuildingadoor……Godforgiveme，MichealDara，we’llallbegettingold，butit’saqueerthingsurely。
MICHEAL
It’stoolonesomeyouarefromlivingalongtimewithanoldman，Nora，andyou’retalkingagainlikeaherdthatwouldbecomingdownfromthethickmist{heputshisarmroundher}，butit’safinelifeyou’llhavenowwithayoungman，afinelifesurely……
{Dansneezesviolently。Michealtriestogettothedoor，butbeforehecandoso，Danjumpsoutofthebedinqueerwhiteclothes，withhisstickinhishand，andgoesoverandputshisbackagainstit。}
MICHEAL
SonofGoddeliverus。
{Crosseshimself，andgoesbackwardacrosstheroom。}
DAN
{Holdinguphishandathim。}
Nowyou’llnotmarryherthetimeI’mrottingbelowintheSevenChurches，andyou’llseethethingI’llgiveyouwillfollowyouonthebackmountainswhenthewindishigh。
MICHEAL
{ToNora。}
Getmeoutofit，Nora，fortheloveofGod。Healwaysdidwhatyoubidhim，andI’mthinkinghewoulddoitnow。
NORA
{LookingattheTramp。}
Isitdeadheisorliving？
DAN
{Turningtowardsher。}
It’slittleyoucareifit’sdeadorlivingIam，butthere’llbeanendnowofyourfinetimes，andallthetalkyouhaveofyoungmenandoldmen，andofthemistcominguporgoingdown。{Heopensthedoor。}You’llwalkoutnowfromthatdoor，NoraBurke，andit’snotto—morrow，orthenextday，oranydayofyourlife，thatyou’llputinyourfootthroughitagain。
TRAMP
{Standingup。}
It’sahardthingyou’resayingforanoldman，masterofthehouse，andwhatwouldthelikeofherdoifyouputheroutontheroads？
DAN
LetherwalkroundthelikeofPeggyCavanaghbelow，andbebeggingmoneyatthecross—road，orsellingsongstothemen。
{ToNora。}Walkoutnow，NoraBurke，andit’ssoonyou’llbegettingoldwiththatlife，I’mtellingyou;it’ssoonyourteeth’llbefallingandyourhead’llbethelikeofabushwheresheepdobeleapingagap。
{Hepauses:shelooksroundatMicheal。}
MICHEAL
{Timidly。}
There’safineUnionbelowinRathdrum。
DAN
Thelikeofherwouldnevergothere……It’slonesomeroadsshe’llbegoingandhidingherselfawaytilltheendwillcome，andtheyfindherstretchedlikeadeadsheepwiththefrostonher，orthebigspiders，maybe，andtheyputtingtheirwebsonher，inthebuttofaditch。
NORA
{Angrily。}
Whatwaywillyourselfbethatday，DanielBurke？Whatwaywillyoubethatdayandyoulyingdownalongwhileinyourgrave？
Forit’sbadyouareliving，andit’sbadyou’llbewhenyou’redead。{Shelooksathimamomentfiercely，thenhalfturnsawayandspeaksplaintivelyagain。}Yet，ifitisitself，DanielBurke，whocanhelpitatall，andletyoubegettingupintoyourbed，andnotbetakingyourdeathwiththewindblowingonyou，andtherainwithit，andyouhalfinyourskin。
DAN
It’sproudandhappyyou’ldbeifIwasgettingmydeaththedayIwasshutofyourself。{Pointingtothedoor。}Letyouwalkoutthroughthatdoor，I’mtellingyou，andletyounotbepassingthiswayifit’shungryyouare，orwantingabed。
TRAMP
{PointingtoMicheal。}
Maybehimselfwouldtakeher。
NORA
Whatwouldhedowithmenow？
TRAMP
Giveyouthehalfofadrybed，andgoodfoodinyourmouth。
DAN
Isitafoolyouthinkhim，stranger，orisitafoolyouwerebornyourself？Letherwalkoutofthatdoor，andletyougoalongwithher，stranger——ifit’srainingitself——forit’stoomuchtalkyouhavesurely。
TRAMP
{GoingovertoNora。}
We’llbegoingnow，ladyofthehouse——therainisfalling，buttheairiskindandmaybeit’llbeagrandmorningbythegraceofGod。
NORA
WhatgoodisagrandmorningwhenI’mdestroyedsurely，andI
goingouttogetmydeathwalkingtheroads？
TRAMP
You’llnotbegettingyourdeathwithmyself，ladyofthehouse，andIknowingallthewaysamancanputfoodinhismouth……
We’llbegoingnow，I’mtellingyou，andthetimeyou’llbefeelingthecold，andthefrost，andthegreatrain，andthesunagain，andthesouthwindblowingintheglens，you’llnotbesittinguponawetditch，thewayyou’reaftersittingintheplace，makingyourselfoldwithlookingoneachday，anditpassingyouby。You’llbesayingonetime，\"It’sagrandevening，bythegraceofGod，\"andanothertime，\"It’sawildnight，Godhelpus，butit’llpasssurely。\"You’llbesaying——
DAN
{Goesovertothemcryingoutimpatiently。}
Gooutofthatdoor，I’mtellingyou，anddoyourblatheringbelowintheglen。
{Noragathersafewthingsintohershawl。}
TRAMP
{Atthedoor。}
Comealongwithmenow，ladyofthehouse，andit’snotmyblatheryou’llbehearingonly，butyou’llbehearingtheheronscryingoutovertheblacklakes，andyou’llbehearingthegrouseandtheowlswiththem，andthelarksandthebigthrusheswhenthedaysarewarm，andit’snotfromthelikeofthemyou’llbehearingatalkofgettingoldlikePeggyCavanagh，andlosingthehairoffyou，andthelightofyoureyes，butit’sfinesongsyou’llbehearingwhenthesungoesup，andthere’llbenooldfellowwheezing，thelikeofasicksheep，closetoyourear。
NORA
I’mthinkingit’smyselfwillbewheezingthattimewithlyingdownundertheHeavenswhenthenightiscold;butyou’veafinebitoftalk，stranger，andit’swithyourselfI’llgo。
{Shegoestowardsthedoor，thenturnstoDan。}Youthinkit’sagrandthingyou’reafterdoingwithyourlettingontobedead，butwhatisitatall？Whatwaywouldawomanliveinalonesomeplacethelikeofthisplace，andshenotmakingatalkwiththemenpassing？Andwhatwaywillyourselflivefromthisday，withnonetocareforyou？Whatisityou’llhavenowbutablacklife，DanielBurke，andit’snotlongI’mtellingyou，tillyou’llbelyingagainunderthatsheet，andyoudeadsurely。
{ShegoesoutwiththeTramp。Michealisslinkingafterthem，butDanstopshim。}
DAN
Sitdownnowandtakealittletasteofthestuff，MichealDara。
There’sagreatdrouthonme，andthenightisyoung。
MICHEAL
{Comingbacktothetable。}
Andit’sverydryIam，surely，withthefearofdeathyouputonme，andIafterdrivingmountainewessincetheturnoftheday。
DAN
{Throwingawayhisstick。}
Iwasthinkingtostrikeyou，MichealDara，butyou’reaquietman，Godhelpyou，andIdon’tmindyouatall。
{Hepoursouttwoglassesofwhisky，andgivesonetoMicheal。}
DAN
Yourgoodhealth，MichealDara。
MICHEAL
Godrewardyou，DanielBurke，andmayyouhavealonglife，andaquietlife，andgoodhealthwithit。
{Theydrink。}
CURTAIN。