She's given milk away. I knew she would bring evil on the house. MAURTEEN Who was it? MARY Both the tongue and face were strange. MAURTEEN Some strangers came last week to Clover Hill; She must be one of them. BRIDGET I am afraid. FATHER HART The Cross will keep all evil from the house While it hangs there. MAURTEEN Come, sit beside me, colleen, And put away your dreams of discontent, For I would have you light up my last days, Like the good glow of the turf; and when I die You'll be the wealthiest hereabout, for, colleen, I have a stocking full of yellow guineas Hidden away where nobody can find it. BRIDGET You are the fool of every pretty face, And I must spare and pinch that my son's wife May have all kinds of ribbons for her head. MAURTEEN Do not be cross; she is a right good girl! The butter is by your elbow, Father Hart. My colleen, have not Fate and Time and Change Done well for me and for old Bridget there? We have a hundred acres of good land, And sit beside each other at the fire. I have this reverend Father for my friend, I look upon your face and my son's face-- We've put his plate by yours--and here he comes, And brings with him the only thing we have lacked, Abundance of good wine. (SHAWN _comes in_.) Stir up the fire, And put new turf upon it till it blaze; To watch the turf-smoke coiling from the fire, And feel content and wisdom in your heart, This is the best of life; when we are young We long to tread a way none trod before, But find the excellent old way through love, And through the care of children, to the hour For bidding Fate and Time and Change goodbye. (MARY _takes a sod of turf from the fire and goes out through the door_. SHAWN _follows her and meets her coming in_.) SHAWN What is it draws you to the chill o' the wood? There is a light among the stems of the trees That makes one shiver. MARY A little queer old man Made me a sign to show he wanted fire To light his pipe. BRIDGET You've given milk and fire Upon the unluckiest night of the year and brought, For all you know, evil upon the house. Before you married you were idle and fine And went about with ribbons on your head; And now--no, Father, I will speak my mind-- She is not a fitting wife for any man---- SHAWN Be quiet, Mother! MAURTEEN You are much too cross. MARY What do I care if I have given this house, Where I must hear all day a bitter tongue, Into the power of faeries! BRIDGET You know well How calling the good people by that name, Or talking of them over much at all, May bring all kinds of evil on the house. MARY