Sighle, who has brought a kettle full of water, gives it to Maire, who hangs it over the fire; Sighle goes into the room.

COLM

(after a pause)

Was Sighle talking to you, mother?

MAIRE.

She was, son.

COLM.

What did she say?

MAIRE.

She told me what you said to her last night. You must be patient, Colm. Don't press her to give you an answer too soon. She has strange thoughts in her heart, and strange memories.

COLM.

What memories has she?

MAIRE.

Many a woman has memories.

COLM.

Sighle has no memories but of this house and of her mother. What is she but a child?

MAIRE.

And what are you but a child? Can't you have patience? Children have memories, but the memories sometimes die. Sighle's memories have not died yet.

COLM.

This is queer talk. What does she remember?

MAIRE.

Whist, there's someone on the street.

COLM

(looking out of the window)

It's Cuimin and the master.

MAIRE.

Be patient, son. Don't vex your head. What are you both but children yet?

The door opens and Cuimin Eanna and Maoilsheachlainn come in. Cuimin is middle aged; Maoilsheachlainn past middle age, turning grey, and a little stooped.

CUIMIN AND MAOILSHEACHLAINN

(entering)

God save all here.

MAIRE.

God save you men. Will you sit? The kettle is on the boil. Give the master the big chair, Colm.

MAOILSHEACHLAINN

(sitting down near the fire on the chair which Colm places for him)

You're early stirring, Maire.

MAIRE.

I didn't lie down at all, master.

MAOILSHEACHLAINN.

Is it to sit up all night you did?

MAIRE.

It is, then. Sighle kept me company.

MAOILSHEACHLAINN.

'Tis a pity of the women of the world. Too good they are for us, and too full of care. I'm afraid that there was many a woman on this mountain that sat up last night. Aye, and many a woman in Ireland. 'Tis women that keep all the great vigils.

MAIRE

(getting the tea)

Why wouldn't we sit up to have a cup of tea ready for you? Won't you go west into the room?

MAOILSHEACHLAINN.

We'd as lief drink it here beside the fire.

MAIRE.

Sighle is readying the room. You'll want the table to write on, maybe.

MAOILSHEACHLAINN.

We'll go west so.

MAIRE.

Wait till Sighle has the table laid. The tea will be drawn in a minute.

COLM

To Maoilsheachlainn).

Was there any word of the messenger at the forge, master?

MAOILSHEACHLAINN.

There was not.

CUIMIN.

When we were coming up the boreen I saw a man breasting Cnoc an Teachta that I thought might be him.

MAOILSHEACHLAINN.

I don't think it was him. He was walking slowly, and sure the messenger that brings that great story will come on the wings of the wind.COLM.

Perhaps it was one of the boys you saw going home from the drill.

CUIMIN.

No, it was a stranger. He looked like a mountainy man that would be coming from a distance. He might be someone that was at the fair of Uachtar Ard yesterday, and that stayed the evening after selling.

MAOILSHEACHLAINN.

Aye, there did a lot stay, I'm told, talking about the word that's expected.

CUIMIN.

The Singer was there, I believe. Diarmaid of the Bridge said that he spoke to them all at the fair, and that there did a lot stay in the town after the fair thinking he'd speak to them again. They say he has the talk of an angel.

MAOILSHEACHLAINN.

What sort is he to look at?

CUIMIN.

A poor man of the mountains. Young they say he is, and pale like a man that lived in cities, but with the dress and the speech of a mountainy man; shy in himself and very silent, till he stands up to talk to the people. And then he has the voice of a silver trumpet, and words so beautiful that they make the people cry.

And there is terrible anger in him, for all that he is shrinking and gentle. Diarmaid said that in the Joyce country they think it is some hero that has come back again to lead the people against the Gall, or maybe the angel, or the Son of Mary Himself that has come down on earth.

MAOILSHEACHLAINN

(looking towards the door)

There's a footstep abroad.

MAIRE

(who has been sitting very straight in her chair listening intently)

That is my son's step.

COLM.

Sure, amn't I here, mother?

MAIRE.

That is MacDara's step.

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 722