按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
you are now； and I giving you your food； and a corner to sleep；
and money with it； and； to hear the talk of you； you'd think I
was after beating you； or stealing your gold。
MARTIN DOUL。 You'd do it handy； maybe； if I'd gold to steal。
TIMMY ＇throws down hammer； picks up some of the sticks already
cut； and throws them into door。） There's no fear of your having
gold a lazy； basking fool the like of you。
MARTIN DOUL。 No fear； maybe； and I here with yourself； for it's
more I got a while since and I sitting blinded in Grianan； than I
get in this place working hard； and destroying myself； the length
of the day。
TIMMY ＇stopping with amazement。＇ Working hard？ （He goes
over to him。） I'll teach you to work hard； Martin Doul。 Strip
off your coat now； and put a tuck in your sleeves； and cut the
lot of them； while I'd rake the ashes from the forge； or I'll not
put up with you another hour itself。
MARTIN DOUL ＇horrified。＇ Would you have me getting my death
sitting out in the black wintry air with no coat on me at all？
TIMMY ＇with authority。＇ Strip it off now； or walk down upon
the road。
MARTIN DOUL ＇bitterly。＇ Oh； God help me！ （He begins taking
off his coat。） I've heard tell you stripped the sheet from your
wife and you putting her down into the grave； and that there
isn't the like of you for plucking your living ducks； the short
days； and leaving them running round in their skins； in the great
rains and the cold。 （He tucks up his sleeves。） Ah； I've heard a
power of queer things of yourself； and there isn't one of them
I'll not believe from this day； and be telling to the boys。
TIMMY ＇pulling over a big stick。＇ Let you cut that now； and
give me rest from your talk； for I'm not heeding you at all。
MARTIN DOUL ＇taking stick。＇ That's a hard； terrible stick；
Timmy； and isn't it a poor thing to be cutting strong timber the
like of that； when it's cold the bark is； and slippy with the
frost of the air？
TIMMY ＇gathering up another armful of sticks。＇ What way
wouldn't it be cold； and it freezing since the moon was changed？
＇He goes into forge。＇
MARTIN DOUL ＇querulously； as he cuts slowly。＇ What way；
indeed； Timmy？ For it's a raw； beastly day we do have each day；
till I do be thinking it's well for the blind don't be seeing
them gray clouds driving on the hill； and don't be looking on
people with their noses red； the like of your nose； and their
eyes weeping and watering； the like of your eyes； God help you；
Timmy the smith。
TIMMY ＇seen blinking in doorway。＇ Is it turning now you are
against your sight？
MARTIN DOUL ＇very miserably。＇ It's a hard thing for a man
to have his sight； and he living near to the like of you （he cuts
a stick and throws it away）； or wed with a wife （cuts a stick）；
and I do be thinking it should be a hard thing for the Almighty
God to be looking on the world； bad days； and on men the like of
yourself walking around on it； and they slipping each way in the
muck。
TIMMY ＇with pot…hooks which he taps on anvil。＇ You'd have a
right to be minding； Martin Doul； for it's a power the Saint
cured lose their sight after a while。 Mary Doul's dimming again；
I've heard them say； and I'm thinking the Lord； if he hears you
making that talk； will have little pity left for you at all。
MARTIN DOUL。 There's not a bit of fear of me losing my sight；
and if it's a dark day itself it's too well I see every wicked
wrinkle you have round by your eye。
TIMMY ＇looking at him sharply。＇ The day's not dark since
the clouds broke in the east。
MARTIN DOUL。 Let you not be tormenting yourself trying to make
me afeard。 You told me a power of bad lies the time I was blind；
and it's right now for you to stop； and be taking your rest （Mary
Doul comes in unnoticed on right with a sack filled with green
stuff on her arm）； for it's little ease or quiet any person would
get if the big fools of Ireland weren't weary at times。 （He looks
up and sees Mary Doul。） Oh； glory be to God； she's coming again。
＇He begins to work busily with his back to her。＇
TIMMY ＇amused； to Mary Doul； as she is going by without
looking at them。＇ Look on him now； Mary Doul。 You'd be a
great one for keeping him steady at his work； for he's after
idling and blathering to this hour from the dawn of day。
MARY DOUL ＇stiffly。＇ Of what is it you're speaking； Timmy
the smith？
TIMMY ＇laughing。＇ Of himself； surely。 Look on him there；
and he with the shirt on him ripping from his back。 You'd have a
right to come round this night； I'm thinking； and put a stitch
into his clothes； for it's long enough you are not speaking one
to the other。
MARY DOUL。 Let the two of you not torment me at all。
＇She goes out left； with her head in the air。＇
MARTIN DOUL ＇stops work and looks after her。＇ Well； isn't
it a queer thing she can't keep herself two days without looking
on my face？
TIMMY ＇jeeringly。＇ Looking on your face is it？ And she
after going by with her head turned the way you'd see a priest
going where there'd be a drunken man in the side ditch talking
with a girl。 （Martin Doul gets up and goes to corner of forge；
and looks out left。） Come back here and don't mind her at all。
Come back here； I'm saying； you've no call to be spying behind
her since she went off； and left you； in place of breaking her
heart； trying to keep you in the decency of clothes and food。
MARTIN DOUL ＇crying out indignantly。＇ You know rightly；
Timmy； it was myself drove her away。
TIMMY。 That's a lie you're telling； yet it's little I care which
one of you was driving the other； and let you walk back here； I'm
saying； to your work。
MARTIN DOUL ＇turning round。＇ I'm coming； surely。
＇He stops and looks out right； going a step or two towards
centre。＇
TIMMY。 On what is it you're gaping； Martin Doul？
MARTIN DOUL。 There's a person walking above。 。 。 。 It's Molly
Byrne； I'm thinking； coming down with her can。
TIMMY。 If she is itself let you not be idling this day； or
minding her at all； and let you hurry with them sticks； for I'll
want you in a short while to be blowing in the forge。 ＇He throws
down pot…hooks。＇
MARTIN DOUL ＇crying out。＇ Is it roasting me now you'd be？
（Turns back and sees pot…hooks； he takes them up。） Pot…hooks？
Is it over them you've been inside sneezing and sweating since
the dawn of day？
TIMMY ＇resting himself on anvil； with satisfaction。＇ I'm
making a power of things you do have when you're settling with a
wife； Martin Doul； for I heard tell last night the Saint'll be
passing again in a short while； and I'd have him wed Molly with
myself。 。 。 。 He'd do it； I've heard them say； for not a penny at
all。
MARTIN DOUL ＇lays down hooks and looks at him steadily。＇
Molly'll be saying great praises now to the Almighty God and He
giving her a fine； stout； hardy man the like of y