_Cornelius comes to the door. He is a tall young man with a slight stoop. His manners are solemn, and his expression somewhat vacant_. CORNELIUS Good morrow, Sally. May you have the good of the day. _(He comes in)_ SALLY _(impetuously)_ Ah, God reward you, Cornelius Douras, for coming in. I'm that busy keeping food to a sow and a litter of pigs that I couldn't get beyond the gate to see any one. CORNELIUS _(solemnly)_ You're a good girl, Sally. You're not like some I know. There are girls in this parish who never put hands to a thing till evening, when the boys do be coming in. Then they begin to stir themselves the way they'll be thought busy and good about a house. SALLY _(pleased and beginning to chop again with renewed energy)_ Oh, it's true indeed for you, Cornelius. There are girls that be decking themselves, and sporting are themselves all day. CORNELIUS I may say that I come over to your father's, Murtagh Cosgar's house, this morning, thinking to meet the men. SALLY What men, Cornelius Douras? CORNELIUS Them that are going to meet the landlord's people with an offer for the land. We're not buying ourselves, unfortunately, but this is a great day--the day of the redemption, my father calls it--and I'd like to have some hand in the work if it was only to say a few words to the men. SALLY It's a wonder Martin, your father isn't on the one errand with you. CORNELIUS We came out together, but the priest stopped father and us on the road. Father Bartley wanted his advice, I suppose. Ah, it's a pity the men won't have some one like my father with them! He was in gaol for the Cause. Besides, he's a well-discoursed man, and a reading man, and, moreover, a man with a classical knowledge of English, Latin, and the Hibernian vernacular. _Martin Douras comes in. He is a man of about sixty, with a refined, scholarly look. His manner is subdued and nervous. He has a stoop, and is clean-shaven._ CORNELIUS I was just telling Sally here what a great day it is, father. MARTIN DOURAS Ay, it's a great day, no matter what our own troubles may be. I should be going home again. _(He takes a newspaper out of his pocket, and leaves it on the table)_ CORNELIUS Wait for the men, father. MARTIN DOURAS Maybe they'll be here soon. Is Murtagh in, Sally? _Cornelius takes the paper up, and begins to read it_. SALLY He's down at the bottoms, Martin. MARTIN DOURAS He's going to Arvach Fair, maybe. SALLY He is in troth. MARTIN DOURAS I'll be asking him for a lift. He'll be going to the Fair when he come back from the lawyer's, I suppose? Ay, he'll be going to-night. _(She gathers the chopped cabbage into her apron, and goes to the door)_ SALLY _(at the door)_ Cornelius. _Cornelius puts down the paper, and goes to the door. Sally goes out_. MARTIN DOURAS Cornelius! _Cornelius goes to Martin_. SALLY _(outside)_ Cornelius, give me a hand with this. _Cornelius turns again_. MARTIN DOURAS Cornelius, I want to speak to you.