FullReads

[She goes out; her voice is heard outside singing.]

They shall be remembered for ever,
They shall be alive for ever,
They shall be speaking for ever,
The people shall hear them for ever.

BRIDGET

[to PETER]. Look at him, Peter; he has the look of a man that has got the touch. [Raising her voice.] Look here, Michael, at the wedding-clothes. Such grand clothes as these are. You have a right to fit them on now; it would be a pity to-morrow if they did not fit. The boys would be laughing at you. Take them, Michael, and go into the room and fit them on.

[She puts them on his arm.]

MICHAEL

. What wedding are you talking of? What clothes will I be wearing to-morrow?

BRIDGET

. These are the clothes you are going to wear when you marry Delia Cahel to-morrow.

MICHAEL

. I had forgotten that.

[He looks at the clothes and turns towards the
inner room, but stops at the sound of cheering
outside.]

PETER

. There is the shouting come to our own door. What is it has happened?

[PATRICK and DELIA come in.]

PATRICK

. There are ships in the Bay; the French are landing at Killala!

[PETER takes his pipe from his mouth and his hat
off, and stands up. The clothes slip from
MICHAEL’s arm.]

DELIA

. Michael! [He takes no notice.] Michael! [He turns towards her.] Why do you look at me like a stranger?

[She drops his arm. BRIDGET goes over towards her.]

PATRICK

. The boys are all hurrying down the hillsides to join the French.

DELIA

. Michael won’t be going to join the French.

BRIDGET

[to PETER]. Tell him not to go, Peter.

PETER

. It’s no use. He doesn’t hear a word we’re saying.

BRIDGET

. Try and coax him over to the fire.

DELIA

. Michael! Michael! You won’t leave me! You won’t join the French, and we going to be married!

[She puts her arms about him; he turns towards
her as if about to yield. OLD WOMAN’s voice outside.]

They shall be speaking for ever,
The people shall hear them for ever.

[MICHAEL breaks away from DELIA and goes out.]

PETER

[to PATRICK, laying a hand on his arm]. Did you see an old woman going down the path?

PATRICK

. I did not, but I saw a young girl, and she had the walk of a queen.