The two or more arches in the third scene permit the use of a gauze. The short front scene before the last is just long enough when played with incidental music to allow the scene set behind it to be changed. The play when played without interval in this way lasts a little over an hour. The play was performed at the Abbey Theatre for the first time on December 14, 1911, Miss Maire O'Neill taking the part of the Countess, and the last scene from the going out of the Merchants was as follows:-- (MERCHANTS _rush out_. ALEEL _crawls into the middle of the room; the twilight has fallen and gradually darkens as the scene goes on_.) ALEEL They're rising up--they're rising through the earth, Fat Asmodel and giddy Belial, And all the fiends. Now they leap in the air. But why does Hell's gate creak so? Round and round. Hither and hither, to and fro they're running. (_He moves about as though the air was full of spirits._ OONA _enters_.) Crouch down, old heron, out of the blind storm. OONA Where is the Countess Cathleen? All this day Her eyes were full of tears, and when for a moment Her hand was laid upon my hand, it trembled. And now I do not know where she is gone. ALEEL Cathleen has chosen other friends than us, And they are rising through the hollow world. Demons are out, old heron. OONA God guard her soul. ALEEL She's bartered it away this very hour, As though we two were never in the world. (_He kneels beside her, but does not seem to hear her words. The_ PEASANTS _return. They carry the_ COUNTESS CATHLEEN _and lay her upon the ground before_ OONA _and_ ALEEL. _She lies there as if dead._) OONA O, that so many pitchers of rough clay Should prosper and the porcelain break in two! (_She kisses the hands of_ CATHLEEN.) A PEASANT We were under the tree where the path turns When she grew pale as death and fainted away. CATHLEEN O, hold me, and hold me tightly, for the storm Is dragging me away. (OONA _takes her in her arms_. A WOMAN _begins to wail_.) PEASANTS Hush! PEASANTS Hush! PEASANT WOMEN Hush! OTHER PEASANT WOMEN Hush! CATHLEEN (_half rising_) Lay all the bags of money in a heap, And when I am gone, old Oona, share them out To every man and woman: judge, and give According to their needs. A PEASANT WOMAN And will she give Enough to keep my children through the dearth? ANOTHER PEASANT WOMAN O, Queen of Heaven, and all you blessed saints, Let us and ours be lost, so she be shriven. CATHLEEN