JOHN. By the hedges, I’d rather hear that than a thousand pound! [_Sits down._] PROF. Come and sit down, Hugh. Gum, I’m proud of my sex. A young Irishman’s the noblest work of God. _O’C. sits._ KILROY [_rising_]. Mr. Allison, I want to speak to you. _KILROY and ALLISON go out back._ PEGGY [_puts off coat and hat_]. Shall I pour out the tea, mother? PROF. Gum, she’s a cool one. As the poet says, “Mistress of herself, though china fall.” MRS. K. No tea for me. My jacket, please! MRS. S. I’ll get it. [_Goes out for it._] MRS. K. Go and put the horse in the trap, Joseph. You’ve had a very narrow escape.... JOSEPH [_rising_]. I’ve Rush Hill anyway. And I can marry any gerril I like in two counties. I don’t want anybody’s leavings.... [_Going to the door back_] Look at this circus.... _JOSEPH stands aside to allow MOLL and PADDY to come in. Both have been weeping. MOLL is still sniffing audibly. She has on the new hat and dress, carries a big, ungainly bundle, and has a cat in a basket. PADDY has a saddle and bridle and other riding tackle strung about him._ MOLL [_not seeing O’C._]. We’ve seen the last av him ... and the last av Rush Hill. [_Sniffs._] Och, hum! we’re all homeless this night, and broken-hearted as a motherless colt.... May the holy saints--Colum, Patrick, and Brigid--be with him wherever he goes.... O’C. Amen, Moll. The saints are all here. MOLL. Oh, sweet heavens! Gimme another look at you.... [_Peering at him_] I can hardly see you for my crying eyes.... PEGGY [_placing a chair_]. Sit down, Moll, and take a good look at him.... What have you got in the basket? MOLL. Ach, sure it’s the cat. Toby. We couldn’t lave him behind us to be starved and beaten to death by the Kilroys. [_Sits._] Och, hum. JOSEPH. Awwwwh! [_Goes out._] PEGGY [_with a chair_]. Sit down, Paddy. We’re having tea. PADDY [_sits_]. It’s good to be all here--if only for a minute--as the swallows light on the road. MRS. K. [_loudly_]. My jacket! My jacket! _MRS. S. comes in with jacket._ MRS. S. This is getting a very distinguished gathering! PROF. “Go ye out into the highways and byeways,” etc., etc. JOHN. Briget, don’t be harsh. They’ve no home. Moll Flanagan has the homeless cat in that basket. That’s a lesson to us all. MRS. S. You’d think to hear you that I was a hard-hearted woman. But I’ll let you see our mistake. If Peggy’s going away I’ll keep Moll Flanagan and the cat as long as they like to stay. JOHN. Good, Briget. I know’d the homeless cat would touch the heart.... And Paddy could give the boys a hand with the harvest.... PEGGY. Moll, I’m going away with Hugh. Will you stay here till I send for you? MOLL. I will--if it was fifty years! O’C. Paddy, you can hang around here, too, and give John a hand with the horses, till you hear from me. That won’t be long.