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again coming by the stream。
TIMMY ＇looking out left； puzzled。＇ It's the young girls I
left walking after the Saint。 。 。 。 They're coming now （goes up
to entrance） carrying things in their hands； and they walking as
easy as you'd see a child walk who'd have a dozen eggs hid in her
bib。
MARTIN DOUL ＇listening。＇ That's Molly Byrne； I'm thinking。
＇Molly Byrne and Bride come on left and cross to Martin Doul；
carrying water…can； Saint's bell； and cloak。＇
MOLLY ＇volubly。＇ God bless you； Martin。 I've holy water
here； from the grave of the four saints of the west； will have
you cured in a short while and seeing like ourselves。
TIMMY ＇crosses to Molly； interrupting her。＇ He's heard
that。 God help you。 But where at all is the Saint； and what way
is he after trusting the holy water with the likes of you？
MOLLY BYRNE。 He was afeard to go a far way with the clouds is
coming beyond； so he's gone up now through the thick woods to say
a prayer at the crosses of Grianan； and he's coming on this road
to the church。
TIMMY ＇still astonished。＇ And he's after leaving the holy
water with the two of you？ It's a wonder； surely。 ＇Comes down
left a little。＇
MOLLY BYRNE。 The lads told him no person could carry them things
through the briars； and steep； slippy…feeling rocks he'll be
climbing above； so he looked round then； and gave the water； and
his big cloak； and his bell to the two of us； for young girls；
says he； are the cleanest holy people you'd see walking the
world。 ＇Mary Doul goes near seat。＇
MARY DOUL ＇sits down； laughing to herself。＇ Well； the
Saint's a simple fellow； and it's no lie。
MARTIN DOUL ＇leaning forward； holding out his hands。＇ Let
you give me the water in my hand； Molly Byrne； the way I'll know
you have it surely。
MOLLY BYRNE ＇giving it to him。＇ Wonders is queer things；
and maybe it'd cure you； and you holding it alone。
MARTIN DOUL ＇looking round。＇ It does not； Molly。 I'm not
seeing at all。 （He shakes the can。） There's a small sup only。
Well； isn't it a great wonder the little trifling thing would
bring seeing to the blind； and be showing us the big women and
the young girls； and all the fine things is walking the world。
＇He feels for Mary Doul and gives her the can。＇
MARY DOUL ＇shaking it。＇ Well； glory be to God。
MARTIN DOUL ＇pointing to Bride。＇ And what is it herself
has； making sounds in her hand？
BRIDE ＇crossing to Martin Doul。＇ It's the Saint's bell；
you'll hear him ringing out the time he'll be going up some
place； to be saying his prayers。
＇Martin Doul holds out his hand； she gives it to him。＇
MARTIN DOUL ＇ringing it。＇ It's a sweet； beautiful sound。
MARY DOUL。 You'd know； I'm thinking； by the little silvery voice
of it； a fasting holy man was after carrying it a great way at
his side。
＇Bride crosses a little right behind Martin Doul。＇
MOLLY BYRNE ＇unfolding Saint's cloak。＇ Let you stand up
now； Martin Doul； till I put his big cloak on you。 （Martin Doul
rises； comes forward； centre a little。） The way we'd see how
you'd look； and you a saint of the Almighty God。
MARTIN DOUL ＇standing up； a little diffidently。＇ I've heard
the priests a power of times making great talk and praises of the
beauty of the saints。 ＇Molly Byrne slips cloak round him。＇
TIMMY ＇uneasily。＇ You'd have a right to be leaving him
alone； Molly。 What would the Saint say if he seen you making
game with his cloak？
MOLLY BYRNE ＇recklessly。＇ How would he see us； and he
saying prayers in the wood？ （She turns Martin Doul round。） Isn't
that a fine holy…looking saint； Timmy the smith？ （Laughing
foolishly。） There's a grand； handsome fellow； Mary Doul； and if
you seen him now you'd be as proud； I'm thinking； as the
archangels below； fell out with the Almighty God。
MARY DOUL ＇with quiet confidence going to Martin Doul and
feeling his cloak。＇ It's proud we'll be this day； surely。
＇Martin Doul is still ringing。＇
MOLLY BYRNE ＇to Martin Doul。＇ Would you think well to be
all your life walking round the like of that； Martin Doul； and
you bell…ringing with the saints of God？
MARY DOUL ＇turning on her； fiercely。＇ How would he be
bell…ringing with the saints of God and he wedded with myself？
MARTIN DOUL。 It's the truth she's saying； and if bell…ringing is
a fine life； yet I'm thinking； maybe； it's better I am wedded
with the beautiful dark woman of Ballinatone。
MOLLY BYRNE ＇scornfully。＇ You're thinking that； God help
you； but it's little you know of her at all。
MARTIN DOUL。 It's little surely； and I'm destroyed this day
waiting to look upon her face。
TIMMY ＇awkwardly。＇ It's well you know the way she is； for
the like of you do have great knowledge in the feeling of your
hands。
MARTIN DOUL ＇still feeling the cloak。＇ We do； maybe。 Yet
it's little I know of faces； or of fine beautiful cloaks； for
it's few cloaks I've had my hand to； and few faces （plaintively）；
for the young girls is mighty shy； Timmy the smith and it isn't
much they heed me； though they do be saying I'm a handsome man。
MARY DOUL ＇mockingly； with good humour。＇ Isn't it a queer
thing the voice he puts on him； when you hear him talking of the
skinny…looking girls； and he married with a woman he's heard
called the wonder of the western world？
TIMMY ＇pityingly。＇ The two of you will see a great wonder
this day； and it's no lie。
MARTIN DOUL。 I've heard tell her yellow hair； and her white
skin； and her big eyes are a wonder； surely。
BRIDE ＇who has looked out left。＇ Here's the saint coming
from the selvage of the wood。 。 。 。 Strip the cloak from him；
Molly； or he'll be seeing it now。
MOLLY BYRNE ＇hastily to Bride。＇ Take the bell and put
yourself by the stones。 （To Martin Doul。） Will you hold your
head up till I loosen the cloak？ （She pulls off the cloak and
throws it over her arm。 Then she pushes Martin Doul over and
stands him beside Mary Doul。） Stand there now； quiet； and let
you not be saying a word。
＇She and Bride stand a little on their left； demurely； with bell；
etc。； in their hands。＇
MARTIN DOUL ＇nervously arranging his clothes。＇ Will he mind
the way we are； and not tidied or washed cleanly at all？
MOLLY BYRNE。 He'll not see what way you are。 。 。 。 He'd walk by
the finest woman in Ireland； I'm thinking； and not trouble to
raise his two eyes to look upon her face。 。 。 。 Whisht！
＇The Saint comes left； with crowd。＇
SAINT。 Are these the two poor people？
TIMMY ＇officiously。＇ They are； holy father； they do be
always sitting here at the crossing of the roads； asking a bit of
copper from them that do pass； or stripping rushes for lights；
and they not mournful at all； but talking out straight with a
full voice； and making game with them that likes it。
SAINT ＇to Martin Doul and Mary Doul。＇ It's a hard life