I do be thinking sometimes, now things are going so well with us, and the Cahels such a good back to us in the district, and Delia’s own uncle a priest, we might be put in the way of making Patrick a priest some day, and he so good at his books.
PETER
Time enough, time enough, you have always your head full of plans, Bridget.
BRIDGET
We will be well able to give him learning, and not to send him tramping the country like a poor scholar that lives on charity.
MICHAEL
They’re not done cheering yet.
[He goes over to the door and stands there for a moment, putting up his hand to shade his eyes.
BRIDGET
Do you see anything?
MICHAEL
I see an old woman coming up the path.
BRIDGET
Who is it, I wonder? It must be the strange woman Patrick saw a while ago.
MICHAEL
I don’t think it’s one of the neighbours anyway, but she has her cloak over her face.
BRIDGET
It might be some poor woman heard we were making ready for the wedding and came to look for her share.
PETER
I may as well put the money out of sight. There is no use leaving it out for every stranger to look at.
[He goes over to a large box in the corner, opens it and puts the bag in and fumbles at the lock.
MICHAEL
There she is, father! [An Old Woman passes the window slowly, she looks at MICHAEL as she passes.] I’d sooner a stranger not to come to the house the night before my wedding.
BRIDGET
Open the door, Michael; don’t keep the poor woman waiting.
[The OLD WOMAN comes in. MICHAEL stands aside to make way for her.
OLD WOMAN
God save all here!
PETER
God save you kindly!
OLD WOMAN
You have good shelter here.
PETER
You are welcome to whatever shelter we have.
BRIDGET
Sit down there by the fire and welcome.
OLD WOMAN [warming her hands]
There is a hard wind outside.
[MICHAEL watches her curiously from the door. PETER comes over to the table.
PETER
Have you travelled far to-day?
OLD WOMAN
I have travelled far, very far; there are few have travelled so far as myself, and there’s many a one that doesn’t make me welcome. There was one that had strong sons I thought were friends of mine, but they were shearing their sheep, and they wouldn’t listen to me.
PETER
It’s a pity indeed for any person to have no place of their own.
OLD WOMAN
That’s true for you indeed, and it’s long I’m on the roads since I first went wandering.
BRIDGET
It is a wonder you are not worn out with so much wandering.
OLD WOMAN