MAIRE And the things we used to talk about after a story! There's the turn of the road, and who's waiting for you? If it's your sweetheart, what will you say to him? JAMES I'm often taken with the thought of the road! Going to the fair on a bright morning, I'd often wish to leave everything aside and follow the road. _A fiddle is heard outside. Conn Hourican comes down, dressed for the road. He has on the greatcoat. He carries fiddle. He puts fiddle on dresser_. CONN What music is that, James? JAMES Some of the boys are coming to meet you, and they have a fiddle with them. CONN Well, now, that's friendly of the boys. JAMES I'll go out now, and let them know that you're coming. _(He goes to door)_ Brian MacConnell turned the other way, and Anne went after him. _He goes out_. CONN _(anxiously)_ Why did Brian MacConnell go away? MAIRE We didn't agree; no, not after all you said. CONN Maybe we'll see Brian at Ardagh. MAIRE How would he ever come back when I bid him go from me? CONN You bid Brian go from you! _(He goes to the window)_ And there was myself that had the mind to go on the road that I see stretched out before me. MAIRE _(going to him)_ You need never come back here. CONN I'll come back with yourself. MAIRE I remember the time when we were on the roads. I remember sights we used to see! Little towns here, and big towns far away, and always the road. CONN And the lasting kindness of the road! MAIRE There is no need for you to come back here, father. CONN And would you follow the road? MAIRE Go back to the fiddler's life, and I'll go back with you. Well see Anne and James at Ardagh, and we'll be at their marriage. _(She turns round as though to take farewell of the house)_ It's right that this place should go to Anne. The house wasn't for you, and it wasn't for me either, I begin to think. _Anne comes in_. ANNE _(with a cry)_ Maire, you are going on the roads! MAIRE How do you know that? ANNE You bid Brian MacConnell go from you, and where else would you go but on the roads? _She goes to the settle and throws herself down, her hands before her face. Maire puts cloak on. Conn goes to Anne. He takes her hands from her face and holds them_.