MATT Very well, then. God above, am I to be treated everywhere like a heifer strayed into a patch of oats? Neither man nor woman will make me put up with this any longer. _(Going to door)_ When Ellen Douras wants me, she knows the place to send to. _(He stands at door. There is no sound from room. Going back he speaks loudly)_ I'll be waiting two days or three days to hear from Ellen Douras. _There is no sound. Matt goes out. The room door is thrown open, and Ellen comes down._ ELLEN _(furiously)_ Two days or three days he'll wait for me. As if I'd go into Murtagh Cosgar's house. As if I'd go into any farmer's house. As if I'd get married at all, and the world before me. Two days or three days you'll wait. Maybe it's lonesome, weary years you'll be waiting, Matt Cosgar. CURTAIN ACT III _Interior of Murtagh Cosgar's. It is towards sunset. Murtagh Cosgar is standing before the door looking out. Martin Douras is sitting at the fire in an armchair._ MARTIN DOURAS It's getting late, Murtagh Cosgar. MURTAGH COSGAR Ay, it's getting late. MARTIN DOURAS It's time for me to be going home. I should be seeing Ellen. _(He rises)_ MURTAGH COSGAR Stay where you are. _(Turning round)_ We're two old men, as you say. We should keep each other's company for a bit. MARTIN DOURAS I should be going home to see Ellen. MURTAGH COSGAR If she's going, you can't stay her. Let you keep here. MARTIN DOURAS She'll be wondering what happened to me. MURTAGH COSGAR Divil a bit it will trouble her. You're going to the fair anyway? MARTIN DOURAS I have no heart to be going into a fair. MURTAGH COSGAR It's myself used to have the great heart. Driving in on my own side-car, and looking down on the crowd of them. It's twenty years since I took a sup of drink. Oh, we'll have drinking to-morrow that will soften the oul' skin of you. You'll be singing songs about the Trojans to charm every baste in the fair. MARTIN DOURAS We're both old men, Murtagh Cosgar. MURTAGH COSGAR And is there any reason in your scholarship why oul' men should be dry men? Answer me that! MARTIN DOURAS I won't answer you at all, Murtagh Cosgar. There's no use in talking to you. MURTAGH COSGAR Put it down on a piece of paper that oul' men should have light hearts when their care is gone from them. They should be like-- MARTIN DOURAS There's nothing in the world like men with their rearing gone from them, and they old. _Sally comes to the door. She enters stealthily._ MURTAGH COSGAR Ha, here's one of the clutch home. Well, did you see that brother of yours? SALLY I did. He'll be home soon, father. MURTAGH COSGAR What's that you say? Were you talking to him? Did he say he'd be home? SALLY I heard him say it, father. MARTIN DOURAS God bless you for the news, Sally. MURTAGH COSGAR How could he go and he the last of them? Sure it would be against nature. Where did you see him, Sally? SALLY At Martin Douras's, father.