DAN. It is, stranger; it’s a long time I’m keeping that stick for I’ve a bad wife in the house. TRAMP. (_With a queer look._) Is it herself, master of the house, and she a grand woman to talk? DAN. It’s herself, surely, it’s a bad wife she is—a bad wife for an old man, and I’m getting old, God help me, though I’ve an arm to me still. (_He takes the stick in his hand._) Let you wait now a short while, and it’s a great sight you’ll see in this room in two hours or three. (_He stops to listen._) Is that somebody above? TRAMP. (_Listening._) There’s a voice speaking on the path. DAN. Put that stick here in the bed and smooth the sheet the way it was lying. (_He covers himself up hastily._) Be falling to sleep now and don’t let on you know anything, or I’ll be having your life. I wouldn’t have told you at all but it’s destroyed with the drouth I was. TRAMP. (_Covering his head._) Have no fear, master of the house. What is it I know of the like of you that I’ld be saying a word or putting out my hand to stay you at all? (_He goes back to the fire, sits down on a stool with his back to the bed and goes on stitching his coat._) DAN. (_Under the sheet, querulously._) Stranger. TRAMP. (_Quickly._) Whisht, whisht. Be quiet I’m telling you, they’re coming now at the door. (_Nora comes in with Micheal Dara, a tall, innocent young man behind her._) NORA. I wasn’t long at all, stranger, for I met himself on the path. TRAMP. You were middling long, lady of the house. NORA. There was no sign from himself? TRAMP. No sign at all, lady of the house. NORA. (_To Micheal._) Go over now and pull down the sheet, and look on himself, Micheal Dara, and you’ll see it’s the truth I’m telling you. MICHEAL. I will not, Nora, I do be afeard of the dead. (_He sits down on a stool next the table facing the tramp. Nora puts the kettle on a lower hook of the pot hooks, and piles turf under it._) NORA. (_Turning to Tramp._) Will you drink a sup of tea with myself and the young man, stranger, or (_speaking more persuasively_) will you go into the little room and stretch yourself a short while on the bed, I’m thinking it’s destroyed you are walking the length of that way in the great rain. TRAMP. Is it to go away and leave you, and you having a wake, lady of the house? I will not surely. (_He takes a drink from his glass which he has beside him._) And it’s none of your tea I’m asking either. (_He goes on stitching. Nora makes the tea._) MICHEAL. (_After looking at the tramp rather scornfully for a moment._) That’s a poor coat you have, God help you, and I’m thinking it’s a poor tailor you are with it. TRAMP. If it’s a poor tailor I am, I’m thinking it’s a poor herd does be running back and forward after a little handful of ewes the way I seen yourself running this day, young fellow, and you coming from the fair. (_Nora comes back to the table._)