SECOND MERCHANT. Hush, hush, and still your feet. You are not now upon Maeve's dancing-floor. A SPIRIT. O, look what I have found, a string of pearls! (They begin taking jewels out of bag.) SECOND MERCHANT. You must not touch them, put them in the bag, And now take up the bags upon your backs And carry them to Shemus Rua's house On the wood's border. SPIRITS. No, no, no, no! FIRST SPIRIT. No, no, let us away; From this we shall not come Cry out to' us who may. SECOND SPIRIT. Sorrow has made me dumb. (They go.) SECOND MERCHANT. They're gone, for little do they care for me, And if I called they would but turn and mock, But you they dare not disobey. FIRST MERCHANT (rising) These dancers Are always the most troublesome of spirits. (He comes down the stage and stands facing the arches. He makes a gesture of command. The SPIRITS come back whimpering. They lift the bags and go out. Three speak as they are taking ub the bags. FIRST SPIRIT. From this day out we'll never dance again. SECOND SPIRIT. Never again. THIRD SPIRIT. Sorrow has made me dumb. SECOND MERCHANT (looking into chapel door) She has heard nothing; she has fallen asleep. Our lord would be well pleased if we could win her. Now that the winds are heavy with our kind, Might we not kill her, and bear off her spirit Before the mob of angels were astir? FIRST MERCHANT. If we would win this turquoise for our lord It must go dropping down of its free will But I've a plan. SECOND MERCHANT. To take her soul to-night? FIRST MERCHANT. Because I am of the ninth and mightiest hell Where are all kings, I have a plan. (Voices.) SECOND MERCHANT. Too late; For somebody is stirring in the house; the noise That the sea creatures made as they came hither, Their singing and their endless chattering, Has waked the house. I hear the chairs pushed back, And many shuffling feet. All the old men and women She's gathered in the house are coming hither. A VOICE. (within) It was here. ANOTHER VOICE. No, farther away. ANOTHER VOICE. It was in the western tower. ANOTHER VOICE. Come quickly, we will search the western tower. FIRST MERCHANT. We still have time--they search the distant rooms. SECOND MERCHANT. Brother, I heard a sound in there--a sound That troubles me. (Going to the door of the oratory and peering through it.) Upon the altar steps The Countess tosses, murmuring in her sleep A broken Paternoster. FIRST MERCHANT. Do not fear, For when she has awaked the prayer will cease. SECOND MERCHANT. What, would you wake her? FIRST MERCHANT. I will speak with her, And mix with all her thoughts a thought to serve.-- Lady, we've news that's crying out for speech. (CATHLEEN wakes and comes to door of the chapel.) Cathleen. Who calls? FIRST MERCHANT. We have brought news. CATHLEEN. What are you?