Three Plays: The Fiddler's House, The Land, Thomas Muskerry Part 5

MAIRE But did you do what I asked you to do?

BRIAN I did. I made it up with my brothers. It was never my way before. What I wanted I took with the strong hand; or if I mightn't put the strong hand on it, I left it alone.

MAIRE _(eagerly)_ Tell me what your brother said to you.

BRIAN When I came up to the door, Hugh came out to meet me.

"What destruction are you bringing me?" he said. "There's my hand,"

says I, "and I take your offer." MAIRE Ah, that's settled. You could settle anything, Brian. _(She goes to the settle and sits down)_ I wonder could you settle something for us?

BRIAN What is it, Maire?

MAIRE It's my father. He wants to be rambling again. He wants to be going to some Feis.

BRIAN Sure, let him go.

_He takes her hand_.

MAIRE I couldn't, Brian. Couldn't you help us? Couldn't you keep father's mind on the right things?

BRIAN Sure, let the fiddler go on the roads.

MAIRE You might stay here this evening with ourselves. Father would be glad to talk with you.

BRIAN _(putting his arm around her)_ But I want the two of us to be seen in Moynihan's to-night.

MAIRE _(resistance in her voice)_ Stay here with us, and let all that go by.

BRIAN Hugh will be there with that woman that brought him the big fortune; and I want you to take the shine out of her.

MAIRE _(rising)_ I was out often lately. You know that, Brian.

_She goes to chair at table, and sits away from him_.

BRIAN _(rising and going to her)_ But this night above all you must be with me.

MAIRE _(turning to him impulsively)_ Stay here and I'll be as nice to you as if we were in another house. _(He kisses her. She rises and goes from him)_ If you knew me at all, Brian MacConnell, that's not the way you'd treat me.

BRIAN Are you not coming out with me?

MAIRE You must leave me to myself now. _(Conn Hourican comes in)_ Is Anne with you, father?

CONN She's gathering posies or something like that. Brian, did you hear about the Feis at Ardagh?

MAIRE _(with vehemence)_ Oh, what's the good of talking about that?

You can't go.

CONN Can't go, did you say, girl?

MAIRE Oh, how could you go?

CONN Is that the way? Well, G.o.d help us. Give me that fiddle till I leave it up.

_He takes the fiddle off dresser, and turns to go_.

MAIRE Father, let me be with you to-night; oh, I'm sorry if I vexed you. _(No reply)_ Well, stay with Brian MacConnell; I'm going out to Anne.

_Maire goes out. Brian goes to rack, and puts on his coat_.

BRIAN Are you coming, Conn? I'm off.

CONN Where to, man?

BRIAN To Flynn's.

CONN I can't be going, I'm sorry to say.

BRIAN I'm going anyway. It's a great thing to be in the company of men.

CONN Ay, in troth. Women, Brian, leave the heart of one very lonesome.

BRIAN _(masterfully)_ Why can't you come out? I thought you were going to-night.

CONN I can't, Brian, and that reminds me. Give these few shillings to Flynn for me. I'll owe them to you still.

BRIAN I'm not going to be bothered by the like. Why can't you come?

CONN I promised Maire.

_Brian strides away. He turns, comes back deliberately, and sits on table beside Conn_.

BRIAN They'll be all looking out for you at Flynn's.

CONN Well, the next time they see me they may respect me.

BRIAN Some of the boys will take it very unkindly. CONN They're decent enough fellows, some of them.

BRIAN And above all nights they'll be watching out for you this night, on account of the Sligomen.

CONN They're decent enough fellows, as I said, and I'll be sorry to disappoint them.

BRIAN The Sligomen will have great stories about Shawn Heffernan.

CONN Shawn Heffernan! Is that impostor still alive?

BRIAN He is, and for fiddling these Sligomen think there's not the like of him in the whole of Ireland.

CONN G.o.d help them if that's all they know. We played against each other at the Granard Feis. He got the prize, but everybody knew that it was me played the best.

BRIAN There's few of them alive now that mind of the Granard Feis.