Did but the lawless angels see that door They would fall, slain by everlasting peace; And when such angels knock upon our doors Who goes with them must drive through the same storm. [_A knock at the door._ MAIRE BRUIN _opens it and then goes to the dresser and fills a porringer with milk and hands it through the door and takes it back empty and closes the door._ MAIRE BRUIN. A little queer old woman cloaked in green Who came to beg a porringer of milk. BRIDGET BRUIN. The good people go asking milk and fire Upon May Eve--Woe on the house that gives For they have power upon it for a year. I knew you would bring evil on the house MAURTEEN BRUIN. Who was she? MAIRE BRUIN. Both the tongue and face were strange. MAURTEEN BRUIN. Some strangers came last week to Clover Hill; She must be one of them. BRIDGET BRUIN. I am afraid. MAURTEEN BRUIN. The priest will keep all harm out of the house. FATHER HART. The Cross will keep all harm out of the house While it hangs there. MAURTEEN BRUIN. Come, sit beside me, colleen, And cut away your dreams of discontent, For I would have you light up my last days Like a bright torch of pine, and when I die I will make you the wealthiest hereabout; For hid away where nobody can find I have a stocking full of silver and gold. BRIDGET BRUIN. You are the fool of every pretty face, And I must pinch and pare that my son's wife May have all kinds of ribbons for her head. MAURTEEN BRUIN. Do not be cross; she is a right good girl! The butter's 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, The wise priest of our parish to our right, And you and our dear son to left of us. To sit beside the board and drink good wine And 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 good-bye. [A _knock at the door._ MAIRE BRUIN _opens it and then takes a sod of turf out of the hearth in the tongs and passes it through the door and closes the door and remains standing by it._ MAIRE BRUIN. A little queer old man in a green coat, Who asked a burning sod to light his pipe. BRIDGET BRUIN. You have now given milk and fire 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 you are a good-for-nothing wife. SHAWN BRUIN. Be quiet, mother! MAURTEEN BRUIN. You are much too cross! MAIRE BRUIN. 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 BRUIN.