cries out._) There’s a thing with a cold, living face on it sitting up at my side. (_He turns to run away, but misses his path and stumbles in against the wall._) My road is lost on me now! Oh, merciful God, set my foot on the path this day, and I’ll be saying prayers morning and night, and not straining my ear after young girls, or doing any bad thing till I die. MARY DOUL. _indignantly._ — Let you not be telling lies to the Almighty God. MARTIN DOUL. Mary Doul, is it? (_Recovering himself with immense relief._) Is it Mary Doul, I’m saying? MARY DOUL. There’s a sweet tone in your voice I’ve not heard for a space. You’re taking me for Molly Byrne, I’m thinking. MARTIN DOUL. _coming towards her, wiping sweat from his face._ — Well, sight’s a queer thing for upsetting a man. It’s a queer thing to think I’d live to this day to be fearing the like of you; but if it’s shaken I am for a short while, I’ll soon be coming to myself. MARY DOUL. You’ll be grand then, and it’s no lie. MARTIN DOUL. _sitting down shyly, some way off._ — You’ve no call to be talking, for I’ve heard tell you’re as blind as myself. MARY DOUL. If I am I’m bearing in mind I’m married to a little dark stump of a fellow looks the fool of the world, and I’ll be bearing in mind from this day the great hullabuloo he’s after making from hearing a poor woman breathing quiet in her place. MARTIN DOUL. And you’ll be bearing in mind, I’m thinking, what you seen a while back when you looked down into a well, or a clear pool, maybe, when there was no wind stirring and a good light in the sky. MARY DOUL. I’m minding that surely, for if I’m not the way the liars were saying below I seen a thing in them pools put joy and blessing in my heart. _She puts her hand to her hair again._ MARTIN DOUL. _laughing ironically._ — Well, they were saying below I was losing my senses, but I never went any day the length of that.... God help you, Mary Doul, if you’re not a wonder for looks, you’re the maddest female woman is walking the counties of the east. MARY DOUL. _scornfully._ You were saying all times you’d a great ear for hearing the lies of the world. A great ear, God help you, and you think you’re using it now. MARTIN DOUL. If it’s not lies you’re telling would you have me think you’re not a wrinkled poor woman is looking like three scores, or two scores and a half! MARY DOUL. I would not, Martin. (_She leans forward earnestly._) For when I seen myself in them pools, I seen my hair would be gray or white, maybe, in a short while, and I seen with it that I’d a face would be a great wonder when it’ll have soft white hair falling around it, the way when I’m an old woman there won’t be the like of me surely in the seven counties of the east. MARTIN DOUL. _with real admiration._ — You’re a cute thinking woman, Mary Doul, and it’s no lie.