The Tinker's Wedding — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
The Tinker's Wedding
John Stuart Mill · en
MICHAEL
_to Sarah._—That’s the truth she’s saying, and maybe if you’ve sense in
you at all, you’d have a right still to leave your fooling, and not be
wasting our gold.
SARAH
_decisively._—If it’s wise or fool I am, I’ve made a good bargain and
I’ll stand to it now.
MARY
What is it he’s making you give?
MICHAEL
The ten shillings in gold, and the tin can is above tied in the sack.
MARY
_looking at the bundle with surprise and dread._—The bit of gold and
the tin can, is it?
MICHAEL
The half a sovereign, and the gallon can.
MARY
_scrambling to her feet quickly._—Well, I think I’ll be walking off the
road to the fair the way you won’t be destroying me going too fast on
the hills. _(She goes a few steps towards the left, then turns and
speaks to Sarah very persuasively._) Let you not take the can from the
sack, Sarah Casey; for the people is coming above would be making game
of you, and pointing their fingers if they seen you do the like of
that. Let you leave it safe in the bag, I’m saying, Sarah darling. It’s
that way will be best.
[_She goes towards left, and pauses for a moment, looking about her
with embarrassment._
MICHAEL
_in a low voice._—What ails her at all?
SARAH
_anxiously._—It’s real wicked she does be when you hear her speaking as
easy as that.
MARY
_to herself._—I’d be safer in the chapel, I’m thinking; for if she
caught me after on the road, maybe she would kill me then.
[_She comes hobbling back towards the right._
SARAH
Where is it you’re going? It isn’t that way we’ll be walking to the
fair.
MARY
I’m going up into the chapel to give you my blessing and hear the
priest saying his prayers. It’s a lonesome road is running below to
Greenane, and a woman would never know the things might happen her and
she walking single in a lonesome place.
[_As she reaches the chapel-gate, the Priest comes to it in his
surplice._
PRIEST
_crying out._—Come along now. It is the whole day you’d keep me here
saying my prayers, and I getting my death with not a bit in my stomach,
and my breakfast in ruins, and the Lord Bishop maybe driving on the
road to-day?
SARAH
We’re coming now, holy father.
PRIEST
Give me the bit of gold into my hand.
SARAH
It’s here, holy father.
[_She gives it to him. Michael takes the bundle from the ditch and
brings it over, standing a little behind Sarah. He feels the bundle,
and looks at Mary with a meaning look._
PRIEST
_looking at the gold._—It’s a good one, I’m thinking, wherever you got
it. And where is the can?
SARAH
_taking the bundle._—We have it here in a bit of clean sack, your
reverence. We tied it up in the inside of that to keep it from rusting
in the dews of night, and let you not open it now or you’ll have the
people making game of us and telling the story on us, east and west to
the butt of the hills.
PRIEST
_taking the bundle._—Give it here into my hand, Sarah Casey. What is it
any person would think of a tinker making a can.
[_He begins opening the bundle._