Three Plays: The Fiddler's House, The Land, Thomas Muskerry Part 21

MURTAGH COSGAR Ay, Matt. Don't you think it's time to be making a match for you?

MATT _(sullenly, going to the door)_ Maybe it is. When you have chosen the woman, call. I'll be without.

MURTAGH COSGAR _(going to him)_ We haven't chosen yet. But it won't be Martin Douras'

daughter, anyhow.

MATT Stop. You drove all your living children away, except Sally and myself. You think Sally and myself are the one sort.

MURTAGH COSGAR _(tauntingly)_ Martin's daughter, Corney's sister. That's the girl for you!

MATT We're not the one sort, I tell you. Martin Douras, isn't he a foolish old man that would drive all his children from him? What would his twenty years' purchase be to him then?

MURTAGH COSGAR It wasn't for my children I worked. No, no; thank G.o.d; it wasn't for my children I worked. Go, if you will. I can be alone.

MARTIN DOURAS O Murtagh, Murtagh, sure you know you can't be alone. We're two old men, Murtagh.

MURTAGH COSGAR He daren't go.

MATT Because I'm the last of them he thinks he can dare me like that.

MURTAGH COSGAR There was more of my blood in the others.

MATT Do you say that?

MARTIN DOURAS Don't say it again. For G.o.d's sake, don't say it again, Murtagh.

MURTAGH COSGAR I do say it again. Them who dared to go had more of my blood in them!

MATT Ah, you have put me to it now, and I'm glad, glad. A little house, a bit of land. Do you think they could keep me here?

MURTAGH COSGAR _(to Martin Douras)_ It's his own way he wants. I never had my own way. _(To Matt)_ You're my last son. You're too young to know the hards.h.i.+p there was in rearing you.

MATT _(exultantly)_ Your last son; that won't keep me here. I'm the last of my name, but that won't keep me here. I leave you your lands, your twenty years' purchase. Murtagh Cosgar, Murtagh Cosgar! isn't that a great name, Martin Douras--a name that's well planted, a name for generations? Isn't he a lucky man that has a name for generations?

_(He goes out)_

MURTAGH COSGAR He can't go. How could he go and he the last of the name. Close the door, I say.

MARTIN DOURAS He'll go to Ellen, surely. We'll lose both of them. Murtagh Cosgar, G.o.d comfort you and me.

MURTAGH COSGAR Ellen; who's Ellen? Ay, that daughter of yours. Close the door, I say.

_He sits down at fireplace. Martin Douras closes door and goes to him_.

CURTAIN

ACT II

_Interior of Martin Douras'. The entrance is at back left. There is a dresser against wall back; a table down from dresser; room doors right and left. The fireplace is below the room door right; there are stools and chairs about it. There is a little bookcase left of the dresser, and a mirror beside it. There are patriotic and religious pictures on the wall. There are cups and saucers on table, and a teapot beside fire. It is afternoon still. Ellen Douras is near the fire reading. Cornelius comes in slowly_.

CORNELIUS I left the men down the road a bit. We ought to take great pride out of this day, Ellen. Father did more than any of them to bring it about.

ELLEN He suffered more than any of them. And it's little we'll get out of the day.

CORNELIUS It's a great thing to have prophesied it, even. We'll be here to see a great change.

ELLEN There will be no change to make things better!

CORNELIUS Will you be taking that school, Ellen?

ELLEN I'll wait a while.

_Sally coming in; she is hurried_.

SALLY _(breathlessly)_ Oh, G.o.d save you, Cornelius. Tell me, is my father gone? I dread going back and he there! It was all over that baste of a sow that has kept me slaving all through the spring till I don't know whether greens or potatoes is the fittest for her!

CORNELIUS He didn't go, Sally. I went down a bit of the road myself with the men.

SALLY Oh, G.o.d help me! And I'll have to be going back to boil meal for her now. How are you, Ellen. _(She goes to Ellen)_

ELLEN Sit down for a while, Sally; it's a long time since I was speaking to you.

_Sally sits down beside Ellen_.

CORNELIUS I'll leave this paper where they won't be looking for pipe-lights.

There are things in that paper I'd like to be saying. _(He takes a newspaper out of his pocket and goes to room right)_

ELLEN _(to Sally, who has been watching Cornelius)_ Tell me, Sally, are they always that busy in your house? Is your father as harsh as they say?

SALLY Father 'ud keep us all working. He's a powerful great man.

ELLEN Matt will be bringing a wife into the house soon from all I hear.

How would your father treat her?

SALLY Oh, he'd have his way, and she'd have her way, I suppose.

ELLEN And do you think your father will let him marry?

SALLY Sure he must if the boy likes.

ELLEN What would he say if Matt married a girl without a fortune?

SALLY In my mother's country there are lots of girls with fortunes that Matt could have.

ELLEN Supposing he wanted a girl that had no fortune?

SALLY Oh, I suppose father would give in in the end. It wouldn't be clay against flint when Matt and father would be to it.