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MOLLY BYRNE。 Keep him off from me； Timmy！
TIMMY ＇pushing Martin Doul aside。＇ Would you have me strike
you； Martin Doul？ Go along now after your wife； who's a fit match
for you； and leave Molly with myself。
MARTIN DOUL ＇despairingly。＇ Won't you raise your voice；
Molly； and lay hell's long curse on his tongue？
MOLLY BYRNE ＇on Timmy's left。＇ I'll be telling him it's
destroyed I am with the sight of you and the sound of your voice。
Go off now after your wife； and if she beats you again； let you
go after the tinker girls is above running the hills； or down
among the sluts of the town； and you'll learn one day； maybe； the
way a man should speak with a well…reared； civil girl the like of
me。 （She takes Timmy by the arm。） Come up now into the forge
till he'll be gone down a bit on the road； for it's near afeard I
am of the wild look he has come in his eyes。
＇She goes into the forge。 Timmy stops in the doorway。＇
TIMMY。 Let me not find you out here again； Martin Doul。 （He
bares his arm。） It's well you know Timmy the smith has great
strength in his arm； and it's a power of things it has broken a
sight harder than the old bone of your skull。
＇He goes into the forge and pulls the door after him。＇
MARTIN DOUL ＇stands a moment with his hand to his eyes。＇
And that's the last thing I'm to set my sight on in the life of
the world the villainy of a woman and the bloody strength of a
man。 Oh； God； pity a poor； blind fellow； the way I am this day
with no strength in me to do hurt to them at all。 （He begins
groping about for a moment； then stops。） Yet if I've no strength
in me I've a voice left for my prayers； and may God blight them
this day； and my own soul the same hour with them； the way I'll
see them after； Molly Byrne and Timmy the smith； the two of them
on a high bed； and they screeching in hell。 。 。 。 It'll be a
grand thing that time to look on the two of them； and they
twisting and roaring out； and twisting and roaring again； one day
and the next day； and each day always and ever。 It's not blind
I'll be that time； and it won't be hell to me； I'm thinking； but
the like of heaven itself； and it's fine care I'll be taking the
Lord Almighty doesn't know。 ＇He turns to grope out。＇
CURTAIN
ACT III
＇The same Scene as in first Act； but gap in centre has been
filled with briars； or branches of some sort。 Mary Doul； blind
again； gropes her way in on left； and sits as before。 She has a
few rushes with her。 It is an early spring day。
MARY DOUL ＇mournfully。＇ Ah； God help me 。 。 。 God help me；
the blackness wasn't so black at all the other time as it is this
time； and it's destroyed I'll be now； and hard set to get my
living working alone； when it's few are passing and the winds are
cold。 （She begins shredding rushes。） I'm thinking short days
will be long days to me from this time； and I sitting here； not
seeing a blink； or hearing a word； and no thought in my mind but
long prayers that Martin Doul'll get his reward in a short while
for the villainy of his heart。 It's great jokes the people'll be
making now； I'm thinking； and they pass me by； pointing their
fingers maybe； and asking what place is himself； the way it's no
quiet or decency I'll have from this day till I'm an old woman
with long white hair and it twisting from my brow。 （She fumbles
with her hair； and then seems to hear something。 Listens for a
moment。） There's a queer； slouching step coming on the road。 。 。
。 God help me； he's coming surely。
＇She stays perfectly quiet。 Martin Doul gropes in on right；
blind also。＇
MARTIN DOUL ＇gloomily。＇ The devil mend Mary Doul for
putting lies on me； and letting on she was grand。 The devil mend
the old Saint for letting me see it was lies。 （He sits down near
her。） The devil mend Timmy the smith for killing me with hard
work； and keeping me with an empty； windy stomach in me； in the
day and in the night。 Ten thousand devils mend the soul of Molly
Byrne （Mary Doul nods her head with approval。） and the bad；
wicked souls is hidden in all the women of the world。 （He rocks
himself； with his hand over his face。） It's lonesome I'll be
from this day； and if living people is a bad lot； yet Mary Doul；
herself； and she a dirty； wrinkled…looking hag； was better maybe
to be sitting along with than no one at all。 I'll be getting my
death now； I'm thinking； sitting alone in the cold air； hearing
the night coming； and the blackbirds flying round in the briars
crying to themselves； the time you'll hear one cart getting off a
long way in the east； and another cart getting off a long way in
the west； and a dog barking maybe； and a little wind turning the
sticks。 （He listens and sighs heavily。） I'll be destroyed
sitting alone and losing my senses this time the way I'm after
losing my sight； for it'd make any person afeard to be sitting up
hearing the sound of his breath （he moves his feet on the
stones） and the noise of his feet； when it's a power of queer
things do be stirring； little sticks breaking； and the grass
moving （Mary Doul half sighs； and he turns on her in horror）
till you'd take your dying oath on sun and moon a thing was
breathing on the stones。 （He listens towards her for a moment；
then starts up nervously； and gropes about for his stick。） I'll
be going now； I'm thinking； but I'm not sure what place my
stick's in； and I'm destroyed with terror and dread。 （He touches
her face as he is groping about and 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 bearin