Part 28 (1/2)

_Flannery_: So you might be, too. All I have that might protect you I offer free, and that's this good umbrella that was given to me in a rainstorm by a priest. _(Holds it out.)_

_Rock_: And what do you say to me giving you the loan of your charges for the road?

_Conan_: Come in here, Maryanne! and give a gla.s.s to these honest men till they'll wish me good luck upon my journey, as it's much I'll need it, with the weight of all I have to do.

_Mother: (Coming in.)_ So I will, so I will and welcome ...but that I disremember where did I put the key of the chest.

_Conan_: I'll engage you do! There it is before you in the lock since ere yesterday. _(Mother puts bottle and gla.s.ses on table.)_

_Flannery: (Lifting gla.s.s.)_ That you may bring great good to Ireland and to the world!

_Rock_: Here's your good health!

_Conan_: I'm obliged to you!

_Rock and Flannery: (Sing.) (Air, ”The Cruiskeen lan.”)_

”Gramachree ma cruiskeen Slainte geal mavourneen, Gramachree a cool-in bawn, bawn, bawn, ban-ban-ban, Oh, Gra-ma-chree a cool-in bawn.”

_(They nod as they finish and take out their pipes and sit down. A banging is heard.)_

_Conan_: What disturbance is that?

_(Celia comes in, her hair screwed up tight, skirt tucked up, is carrying a pail, brush, cloth, etc., lets them drop and proceeds to fasten up skirt.)_

_Mother_: Ah, Celia, what is on you? I never saw you that way before.

_Conan_: Ha! Very good! I think that you will say there is a great change come upon her, and a right change.

_Celia_: Look now at the floor the way it is.

_Mother_: I see no other way but the way it is always.

_Celia_: There's a bit of soot after falling down the chimney. _(Picks up tongs.)_

_Mother:_ Ah, leave it now, dear, a while.

_Celia_: Anything has to be done, the quickest way to do it is the best. _(Having taken up soot, flings down tongs.)_

_Conan_: Listen to that! Now am I able to work wonders?

_Rock_: It is that you have spent on her a blast?

_Conan_: If I did it was well spent.

_Flannery_: I'm in dread you have been robbing the poor.

_Rock_: It is myself you have robbed doing that.

You have no call to be using those blasts for your own profit!