ELLEN _(to Sally, who has been watching Cornelius)_ Tell me, Sally, are they always that busy in your house? Is your father as harsh as they say? SALLY Father 'ud keep us all working. He's a powerful great man. ELLEN Matt will be bringing a wife into the house soon from all I hear. How would your father treat her? SALLY Oh, he'd have his way, and she'd have her way, I suppose. ELLEN And do you think your father will let him marry? SALLY Sure he must if the boy likes. ELLEN What would he say if Matt married a girl without a fortune? SALLY In my mother's country there are lots of girls with fortunes that Matt could have. ELLEN Supposing he wanted a girl that had no fortune? SALLY Oh, I suppose father would give in in the end. It wouldn't be clay against flint when Matt and father would be to it. ELLEN You're a good girl, Sally. If I was Matt's wife, do you think you'd be fond of me? SALLY I'd like you as well as another, Ellen. _Cornelius comes down from room_. CORNELIUS I suppose they'll be here soon. ELLEN I have tea ready for them. SALLY Who's coming at all? CORNELIUS Some of the boys and girls that are for America. They are going to Gilroy's to-night, and are leaving from that in the morning. They are coming in to see Ellen on their way down. SALLY There are a good many going this flight. The land never troubles them in America, and they can wear fine clothes, and be as free as the larks over the bogs. It's a wonder you never thought of going, Ellen. ELLEN Father wouldn't like me to be far from him, and so I went in for the school instead. SALLY And now you've got a fine boy like Matt. It was lucky for you to be staying here. ELLEN Hush, Sally. SALLY Oh, I knew all about it before you talked to me at all. Matt always goes to the place where he thinks you'd be. ELLEN _(rising)_ I'll be in the room when the girls come, Cornelius. _She goes into room left_. SALLY _(going to Cornelius)_ God help us, but she's the silent creature. Isn't it a wonder she's not filled with talk of him after seeing him to-day? But Ellen's right. We shouldn't be talking about men, nor thinking about them either; and that's the way to keep them on our hands on the long run. I'll be going myself. _She goes towards door_. CORNELIUS _(going to her)_ Don't be minding Ellen at all, Sally. SALLY Well, as high as she is, and as mighty as she is, she came into his own house to see Matt. God between us and harm, Cornelius, maybe they'll be saying I came into your house to see you. CORNELIUS Who'll know you came at all? And what isn't seen won't be spoken of. SALLY Would you like me to stay, Cornelius? CORNELIUS Ay, I would. SALLY Divil mind the sow, _They sit down together_. SALLY _(after a pause)_ Would you like me to knit you a pair of socks, Cornelius? CORNELIUS Oh, I would, Sally; I'd love to wear them. SALLY I'll knit them. We'll be getting rid of the sow tonight, maybe, and I'll have time after that.