Then my thousand welcomes to you, and I've run up with a brace of duck's eggs for your food to-day. Pegeen's ducks is no use, but these are the real rich sort. Hold out your hand and you'll see it's no lie I'm telling you.

CHRISTY coming forward shyly, and holding out his left hand. They're a great and weighty size.

SUSAN. And I run up with a pat of butter, for it'd be a poor thing to have you eating your spuds dry, and you after running a great way since you did destroy your da.

CHRISTY. Thank you kindly.

HONOR. And I brought you a little cut of a cake, for you should have a thin stomach on you and you that length walking the world.

NELLY. And I brought you a little laying pullet – boiled and all she is – was crushed at the fall of night by the curate's car. Feel the fat of that breast, Mister.

CHRISTY. It's bursting, surely. He feels it with the back of his left hand, in which he holds the presents.

SARA. Will you pinch it? Is your right hand too sacred for to use at all? She slips round behind him. It's a glass he has. Well I never seen to this day, a man with a looking-glass held to his back. Them that kills their fathers is a vain lot surely.

 

Girls giggle.

 

CHRISTY smiling innocently and piling presents on glass. I'm very thankful to you all to-day. ...

WIDOW QUIN coming in quickly, at door. Sara Tansey, Susan Brady, Honor Blake! What in glory has you here at this hour of day?

GIRLS giggling. That's the man killed his father.

WIDOW QUIN coming to them. I know well it's the man; and I'm after putting him down in the sports below for racing, lepping, pitching, and the Lord knows what.

SARA exuberantly. That's right, Widow Quin. I'll bet my dowry that he'll lick the world.

WIDOW QUIN. If you will, you'd have a right to have him fresh and nourished in place of nursing a feast. Taking presents. Are you fasting or fed, young fellow?

CHRISTY. Fasting, if you please.

WIDOW QUIN loudly. Well, you're the lot. Stir up now and give him his breakfast. To Christy. Come here to me she puts him on bench beside her while the girls make tea and get his breakfast and let you tell us your story before Pegeen will come, in place of grinning your ears off like the moon of May.

CHRISTY beginning to be pleased.