The cloth with the bread is still in her hand. The girls look at each other, and Nora points to the bundle of bread.

 

CATHLEEN after spinning for a moment. You didn't give him his bit of bread?

 

Maurya begins to keen softly, without turning round.

 

CATHLEEN. Did you see him riding down?

 

Maurya goes on keening.

 

CATHLEEN a little impatiently. God forgive you; isn't it a better thing to raise your voice and tell what you seen, than to be making lamentation for a thing that's done? Did you see Bartley, I'm saying to you.

MAURYA with a weak voice. My heart's broken from this day.

CATHLEEN as before. Did you see Bartley?

MAURYA. I seen the fearfullest thing.

CATHLEEN leaves her wheel and looks out. God forgive you; he's riding the mare now over the green head, and the grey pony behind him.

MAURYA starts, so that her shawl falls back from her head and shows her white tossed hair. With a frightened voice. The grey pony behind him ...

CATHLEEN coming to the fire. What is it ails you, at all?

MAURYA speaking very slowly. I've seen the fearfullest thing any person has seen, since the day Bride Dara seen the dead man with the child in his arms.

CATHLEEN AND NORA. Uah. They crouch down in front of the old woman at the fire.

NORA. Tell us what it is you seen.

MAURYA. I went down to the spring well, and I stood there saying a prayer to myself. Then Bartley came along, and he riding on the red mare with the grey pony behind him she puts up her hands, as if to hide something from her eyes. The Son of God spare us, Nora!

CATHLEEN. What is it you seen?

MAURYA. I seen Michael himself.

CATHLEEN speaking softly. You did not, mother; it wasn't Michael you seen, for his body is after being found in the far north, and he's got a clean burial by the grace of God.

MAURYA a little defiantly. I'm after seeing him this day, and he riding and galloping. Bartley came first on the red mare; and I tried to say »God speed you,« but something choked the words in my throat. He went by quickly; and »the blessing of God on you,« says he, and I could say nothing. I looked up then, and I crying, at the grey pony, and there was Michael upon it – with fine clothes on him, and new shoes on his feet.

CATHLEEN begins to keen. It's destroyed we are from this day. It's destroyed, surely.

NORA. Didn't the young priest say the Almighty God won't leave her destitute with no son living?

MAURYA in a low voice, but clearly. It's little the like of him knows of the sea.