ANNE _(rather distantly)_ You're looking your best, I think. _(Seriously)_ Maire, I didn't like the way you talked to father. MAIRE _(petulantly)_ What have you against it? ANNE You're becoming a stranger to us, Maire. MAIRE _(as an apology)_ I'm out often, I know, but I think as much as ever of the house, and about you and father. You know we couldn't let him go to the Feis at Ardagh. We couldn't let him go off like a rambling fiddler. ANNE We couldn't let him go off by himself. MAIRE You're going to Moynihan's. ANNE Maybe I'll go. MAIRE Anne, honey, do something for me. ANNE What will I do? MAIRE You'll meet father coming up with Brian, and take him away. ANNE And will you tell me everything to-night? MAIRE Who else would I talk to but yourself, Nancy? _(Anne goes out)_ I wish Anne hadn't spoken to me like that. I feel the like of that. _(Desperately)_ Well, I'll pray for nothing now but to look my best. _(She goes to the fire. Brian MacConnell comes in)_ You're welcome, Brian. BRIAN We didn't finish to-day. I'll come in to-morrow and finish. MAIRE O no, Brian, we won't take another day from you. BRIAN Well, what's a day after all? Many's the day and night I put in thinking on you. MAIRE But did you do what I asked you to do? BRIAN I did. I made it up with my brothers. It was never my way before. What I wanted I took with the strong hand; or if I mightn't put the strong hand on it, I left it alone. MAIRE _(eagerly)_ Tell me what your brother said to you. BRIAN When I came up to the door, Hugh came out to meet me. "What destruction are you bringing me?" he said. "There's my hand," says I, "and I take your offer." MAIRE Ah, that's settled. You could settle anything, Brian. _(She goes to the settle and sits down)_ I wonder could you settle something for us? BRIAN What is it, Maire? MAIRE It's my father. He wants to be rambling again. He wants to be going to some Feis. BRIAN Sure, let him go. _He takes her hand_. MAIRE I couldn't, Brian. Couldn't you help us? Couldn't you keep father's mind on the right things? BRIAN Sure, let the fiddler go on the roads. MAIRE You might stay here this evening with ourselves. Father would be glad to talk with you. BRIAN _(putting his arm around her)_ But I want the two of us to be seen in Moynihan's to-night. MAIRE _(resistance in her voice)_ Stay here with us, and let all that go by. BRIAN Hugh will be there with that woman that brought him the big fortune; and I want you to take the shine out of her. MAIRE _(rising)_ I was out often lately. You know that, Brian. _She goes to chair at table, and sits away from him_. BRIAN _(rising and going to her)_ But this night above all you must be with me. MAIRE _(turning to him impulsively)_ Stay here and I'll be as nice to you as if we were in another house. _(He kisses her. She rises and goes from him)_ If you knew me at all, Brian MacConnell, that's not the way you'd treat me. BRIAN Are you not coming out with me?