[_Goes towards the hour-glass as if to uncover it._] No, no, I have not the courage. [_He kneels._] Have pity upon me, Fool, and tell me! FOOL. Ah! Now, that is different. I am not afraid of you now. But I must come nearer to you; somebody in there might hear what the Angel said. WISE MAN. Oh, what did the Angel tell you? FOOL. Once I was alone on the hills, and an angel came by and he said, ‘Teig the Fool, do not forget the Three Fires; the Fire that punishes, the Fire that purifies, and the Fire wherein the soul rejoices for ever!’ WISE MAN. He believes! I am saved! The sand has run out.... [_FOOL helps him to his chair._] I am going from the country of the seven wandering stars, and I am going to the country of the fixed stars! I understand it all now. One sinks in on God; we do not see the truth; God sees the truth in us. Ring the bell. They are coming. Tell them, Fool, that when the life and the mind are broken the truth comes through them like peas through a broken peascod. Pray, Fool, that they may be given a sign and carry their souls alive out of the dying world. Your prayers are better than mine. [_FOOL bows his head. WISE MAN’S head sinks on his arm on the books. PUPILS are heard singing as before, but now they come right on to the stage before they cease their song._ A YOUNG MAN. Look at the Fool turned bell-ringer! ANOTHER. What have you called us in for, Teig? What are you going to tell us? ANOTHER. No wonder he has had dreams! See, he is fast asleep now. [_Goes over and touches him._] Oh, he is dead! FOOL. Do not stir! He asked for a sign that you might be saved. [_All are silent for a moment._] ... Look what has come from his mouth ... a little winged thing ... a little shining thing.... It is gone to the door. [_The ANGEL appears in the doorway, stretches out her hands and closes them again._] The Angel has taken it in her hands.... She will open her hands in the Garden of Paradise. [_They all kneel._ CATHLEEN NI HOULIHAN _PERSONS IN THE PLAY_ PETER GILLANE MICHAEL GILLANE, _his Son, going to be married_ PATRICK GILLANE, _a lad of twelve, Michael’s Brother_ BRIDGET GILLANE, _Peter’s Wife_ DELIA CAHEL, _engaged to Michael_ THE POOR OLD WOMAN Neighbours CATHLEEN NI HOULIHAN _Interior of a cottage close to Killala, in 1798. BRIDGET is standing at a table undoing a parcel. PETER is sitting at one side of the fire, PATRICK at the other._ PETER. What is that sound I hear? PATRICK. I don’t hear anything. [_He listens._] I hear it now. It’s like cheering. [_He goes to the window and looks out._] I wonder what they are cheering about. I don’t see anybody. PETER. It might be a hurling. PATRICK. There’s no hurling to-day. It must be down in the town the cheering is. BRIDGET. I suppose the boys must be having some sport of their own. Come over here, Peter, and look at Michael’s wedding-clothes. PETER [_shifts his chair to table_].