MAIRE He looked like a man that something had happened to. Connor Gilpatrick came up, and then I went away. _Conn Hourican comes out of room. He has left the greatcoat in room. He brings the fiddle with him. Maire and Anne go to the settle. They talk._ JAMES _(to Conn)_ What would you think of a row of trees planted before the door? _Conn leaves fiddle on dresser, and comes to him_. CONN They might be very becoming, James. JAMES My father was saying that the front looked very bare. CONN A row of trees, when they'd grow, would make a great difference. JAMES That's what my father was saying. _They talk, Conn leaning on the half-door._ ANNE I'm glad to be here. It would be very strange for me to be married, and in another house. MAIRE I was thinking, Anne, that father and myself ought to stay a while on the road, till you and James get settled here. ANNE Listen, Maire. James says that he'll be giving this place back to you after a while. With this start he'll be able to get a house and land near his father's place. He has fine schemes for making this place prosperous. James, come here. _(James turns from door)_ Come here, James, and talk with Maire. _James comes to girls, leaving Conn looking out. Maire rises._ JAMES I'll make a path down to the road, and, with a row of trees before the door, the place will be well worth looking at. MAIRE We won't know the place after a while. JAMES We can never forget, Maire, that it is to you that we owe the place and the start in life. MAIRE I never looked on the place as my own. JAMES And now that the land is in Anne's name, my father will be glad to stock the place. MAIRE You have all our will of the place. Father, speak to James and tell him that he has your will of the place. CONN _(turning from door)_ Indeed you have, James, and we're overglad to have Anne settled with a steady boy. JAMES Well, long life to you, Conn; and may the man of art never want fame nor a friend. CONN _(going to dresser)_ Drink to that, James. _He takes up a bottle and fills two glasses_. JAMES I never touch anything, Conn; but if Anne won't think bad of me, I'll drink to your prosperity. ANNE I won't be watching you at all. _(She goes to door. To Maire)_ I'm going down the road, and if there's any one coming here, I'll let you know. _Anne goes out. James takes the glass from Conn_. JAMES Here's to the fiddler, first of all. May it be again like in the days of Ireland's glory, when the men of art had their rights and their dues. _He drinks_. CONN Long life to yourself, James Moynihan. _(Conn drinks)_ I know you a long time now, and I know nothing to your discredit. You're one of the few people here that are to my liking. Well, if I'm nothing to them, they're nothing to me. I lived my own life, and I had the gift.