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CHRISTY ＇peevishly。＇ Ah； not at all； I'm saying。 You'd see the like of
them stories on any little paper of a Munster town。 But I'm not calling to
mind any person； gentle； simple； judge or jury； did the like of me。 ＇They all
draw nearer with delighted curiosity。＇
PHILLY。 Well； that lad's a puzzlethe world。
JIMMY。 He'd beat Dan Davies' circus； or the holy missioners making sermons on
the villainy of man。 Try him again； Philly。
PHILLY。 Did you strike golden guineas out of solder； young fellow； or
shilling coins itself？
CHRISTY。 I did not； mister； not sixpence nor a farthing coin。
JIMMY。 Did you marry three wives maybe？ I'm told there's a sprinkling have
done that among the holy Luthers of the preaching north。
CHRISTY ＇shyly。＇ I never married with one； let alone with a couple or
three。
PHILLY。 Maybe he went fighting for the Boers； the like of the man beyond； was
judged to be hanged； quartered and drawn。 Were you off east； young fellow；
fighting bloody wars for Kruger and the freedom of the Boers？
CHRISTY。 I never left my own parish till Tuesday was a week。
PEGEEN ＇coming from counter。＇ He's done nothing； so。 （To Christy。） If
you didn't commit murder or a bad； nasty thing； or false coining； or robbery；
or butchery； or the like of them； there isn't anything that would be worth
your troubling for to run from now。 You did nothing at all。
CHRISTY ＇his feelings hurt。＇ That's an unkindly thing to be saying to a
poor orphaned traveller； has a prison behind him； and hanging before； and
hell's gap gaping below。
PEGEEN ＇with a sign to the men to be quiet。＇ You're only saying it。 You
did nothing at all。 A soft lad the like of you wouldn't slit the windpipe of
a screeching sow。
CHRISTY ＇offended。＇ You're not speaking the truth。
PEGEEN ＇in mock rage。＇ Not speaking the truth； is it？ Would you have
me knock the head of you with the butt of the broom？
CHRISTY ＇twisting round on her with a sharp cry of horror。＇ Don't strike
me。 I killed my poor father； Tuesday was a week； for doing the like of that。
PEGEEN ＇with blank amazement。＇ Is it killed your father？
CHRISTY ＇subsiding。＇ With the help of God I did surely； and that the Holy
Immaculate Mother may intercede for his soul。
PHILLY ＇retreating with Jimmy。＇ There's a daring fellow。
JIMMY。 Oh； glory be to God！
MICHAEL ＇with great respect。＇ That was a hanging crime； mister honey。
You should have had good reason for doing the like of that。
CHRISTY ＇in a very reasonable tone。＇ He was a dirty man； God forgive
him； and he getting old and crusty； the way I couldn't put up with him at all。
PEGEEN。 And you shot him dead？
CHRISTY ＇shaking his head。＇ I never used weapons。 I've no license； and
I'm a law…fearing man。
MICHAEL。 It was with a hilted knife maybe？ I'm told； in the big world it's
bloody knives they use。
CHRISTY ＇loudly； scandalized。＇ Do you take me for a slaughter…boy？
PEGEEN。 You never hanged him； the way Jimmy Farrell hanged his dog from the
license； and had it screeching and wriggling three hours at the butt of a
string； and himself swearing it was a dead dog； and the peelers swearing it
had life？
CHRISTY。 I did not then。 I just riz the loy and let fall the edge of it on
the ridge of his skull； and he went down at my feet like an empty sack； and
never let a grunt or groan from him at all。
MICHAEL ＇making a sign to Pegeen to fill Christy's glass。＇ And what way
weren't you hanged； mister？ Did you bury him then？
CHRISTY ＇considering。＇ Aye。 I buried him then。 Wasn't I digging spuds in
the field？
MICHAEL。 And the peelers never followed after you the eleven days that you're
out？
CHRISTY ＇shaking his head。＇ Never a one of them； and I walking forward
facing hog； dog； or divil on the highway of the road。
PHILLY ＇nodding wisely。＇ It's only with a common week…day kind of a
murderer them lads would be trusting their carcase； and that man should be a
great terror when his temper's roused。
MICHAEL。 He should then。 （To Christy。） And where was it； mister honey； that
you did the deed？
CHRISTY ＇looking at him with suspicion。＇ Oh； a distant place； master of
the house； a windy corner of high； distant hills。
PHILLY ＇nodding with approval。＇ He's a close man； and he's right；
surely。
PEGEEN。 That'd be a lad with the sense of Solomon to have for a pot…boy；
Michael James； if it's the truth you're seeking one at all。
PHILLY。 The peelers is fearing him； and if you'd that lad in the house there
isn't one of them would come smelling around if the dogs itself were lapping
poteen from the dungpit of the yard。
JIMMY。 Bravery's a treasure in a lonesome place； and a lad would kill his
father； I'm thinking； would face a foxy divil with a pitchpike on the flags of
hell。
PEGEEN。 It's the truth they're saying； and if I'd that lad in the house； I
wouldn't be fearing the loosed kharki cut…throats； or the walking dead。
CHRISTY ＇swelling with surprise and triumph。＇ Well； glory be to God！
MICHAEL ＇with deference。＇ Would you think well to stop here and be
pot…boy； mister honey； if we gave you good wages； and didn't destroy you with
the weight of work？
SHAWN ＇coming forward uneasily。＇ That'd be a queer kind to bring into a
decent quiet household with the like of Pegeen Mike。
PEGEEN ＇very sharply。＇ Will you whisht？ Who's speaking to you？
SHAWN ＇retreating。＇ A bloody…handed murderer the like of 。 。 。
PEGEEN ＇snapping at him。＇ Whisht I am saying； we'll take no fooling from
your like at all。 （To Christy with a honeyed voice。） And you； young fellow；
you'd have a right to stop； I'm thinking； for we'd do our all and utmost to
content your needs。
CHRISTY ＇overcome with wonder。＇ And I'd be safe in this place from the
searching law？
MICHAEL。 You would； surely。 If they're not fearing you； itself； the peelers
in this place is decent droughty poor fellows； wouldn't touch a cur dog and
not give warning in the dead of night。
PEGEEN ＇very kindly and persuasively。＇ Let you stop a short while
anyhow。 Aren't you destroyed walking with your feet in bleeding blisters； and
your whole skin needing washing like a Wicklow sheep。
CHRISTY ＇looking round with satisfaction。＇ It's a nice room； and if it's
not humbugging me you are； I'm thinking that I'll surely stay。
JIMMY ＇jumps up。＇ Now； by the grace of God； herself will be safe this
night； with a man killed his father holding danger from the door； and let you
come on； Michael James； or they'll have the best stuff drunk at the wake。
MICHAEL ＇going to the door with men。＇ And begging your pardon； mister； what
name will we call you； for we'd like to know？
CHRISTY。 Christopher Mahon。
MICHAEL。 Well； God bless you； Christy； and a good rest till we meet again
when the sun'll be rising to the noon of day。
CHRISTY。 God bless you all。
MEN。 God bless you。 ＇They go out except Shawn； who lingers at door。＇
SHAWN ＇to Pegeen。＇ Are you wanting me to stop along with you and keep
you from harm？
PEGEEN ＇gruffly。＇ Didn't you say you were fearing Father Reilly？
SHAWN。 There'd be no harm staying now； I'm thinking； and himself in it too。
PEGEEN。 You wouldn't stay when there was need for you； and let you step off
nimble this time when there's none。
SHAWN。 Didn't I say it was Father Reilly 。 。 。
PEGEEN。 Go on； then； to Father Reilly （in a jeering tone）； and let him put
you in the holy brotherhoods； and leave that lad to me。
SHAWN。 If I meet the Widow Quin 。 。 。
PEGEEN。 Go on； I'm saying； and don't be waking this place with your noise。
（She hustles him out and bolts the door。） That lad would wear the spirits
from the saints of peace。 （Bustles about； then takes off her apron and pins
it up in the window as a blind。 Christy watching her timidly。 Then she comes
to him and speaks with bland good…humour。） Let you stretch out now by the
fire； young fellow。 You should be destroyed travelling。
CHRISTY ＇shyly again； drawing off his boots。） I'm tired； surely； walking
wild eleven days； and waking fearful in the night。 ＇He holds up one of his
feet； feeling his blisters； and looking at them with compassion。＇
PEGEEN ＇standing beside him； watching him with delight。＇ You should have
had great people in your family； I'm thinking； with the little； small feet you
have； and you with a kind of a quality name； the like of what you'd find on
the great powers and potentates of France and Spain。
CHRISTY ＇with pride。＇ We were great surely； with wide and windy acres of
rich Munster land。
PEGEEN。 Wasn't I telling you； and you a fine； handsome young fellow with a
noble brow？
CHRISTY ＇with a flash of delighted surprise。＇ Is it me？
PEGEEN。 Aye。 Did you never he