CONN I went over to Flynn's, but I had good reason for going there. _(He puts the fiddle down on the table)_ Didn't you hear there were Sligomen in the town, Maire? Well, one of them was in the way of rewarding the prizes. I told you about the Feis; well, it's no matter now, I'll say no more about that. At all events the man I mentioned wanted to know what music was in the country, so he sent a message to myself. ANNE _(as satirical as she can be)_ That was kind of him. CONN It was. I could do no less than go. I'll rest myself now, and then get ready for the mowing. _(He goes to the room door; he turns again and watches Maire)_ Maire, I'm sorry you weren't on the spot. You might have advised me. I couldn't think of where you went or I'd have followed you. I had to make haste. MAIRE It's no matter at all now. CONN I'll stretch myself on the bed before I begin work. Anne, did you say you were leaving something in the room for me? ANNE I suppose I'll have to leave the tea in the room for you. _She gets the tea ready. Maire remains motionless_. CONN Well, I have the pattern of daughters, anyway. I wouldn't give this house for the praise of Ireland, no, not if they carried me on their backs. _(Anne takes the tea up to the room)_ It's a pity you weren't there, Maire, though of course I wouldn't bring you into such a place. But they were decent fellows, decent, warm-hearted fellows. If you were to see their faces when I played _An Chaitin Donn_. I'll warrant they'll be whistling it, though they never heard the tune before. And the manners they have! I offered the fiddle to one of them. "No," says he, "not a string will I touch while the master of us is here." That's something like the spirit. _(Maire has turned to him and is attentive)_ But there, I won't fill myself up with false music telling you about it all. _He turns to the room_. MAIRE Bring up your fiddle. CONN _(taking fiddle and going towards room again)_ It will be as good as sound sleeping for me. I'll never forget it. Flynn will never forget it. It will be the making of Flynn. _Maire rises_. MAIRE You've only your fiddle; we shouldn't forget that. _Conn goes up to the room. Maire turns to the fire. Anne comes down_. ANNE O Maire, what will become of us at all? MAIRE He is very pleased with himself. He has only his fiddle, we shouldn't forget that. ANNE It will be a long time till he does the like again. MAIRE It will be a long time, I suppose. Both of us might be in a different house and have different cares. ANNE That would be terrible. I'll never leave him, Maire. MAIRE You can't say the like now. ANNE Why? MAIRE How could you take such things upon you and life stretching out before you? You're not young enough, Anne. Besides, it's not what we say; it's what we feel. No, it's not what we feel either; it's what grows up in us. ANNE He might never do the like again. MAIRE Many's the time mother said that, and she and me lying together.