They're coming now goes up to entrance carrying things in their hands, and they walking as easy as you'd see a child walk, who'd have a dozen eggs hid in her bib.

MARTIN DOUL listening. That's Molly Byrne, I'm thinking.

 

Molly Byrne and Bride come on left and cross to Martin Doul, carrying water-can, Saint's bell, and cloak.

 

MOLLY volubly. God bless you, Martin. I've holy water here from the grave of the four saints of the west, will have you cured in a short while and seeing like ourselves –

TIMMY crosses to Molly, interrupting her. He's heard that, God help you. But where at all is the saint, and what way is he after trusting the holy water with the likes of you?

MOLLY BYRNE. He was afeard to go a far way with the clouds is coming beyond, so he's gone up now through the thick woods to say a prayer at the crosses of Grianan, and he's coming on this road to the church.

TIMMY still astonished. And he's after leaving the holy water with the two of you? It's a wonder, surely. Comes down left a little.

MOLLY BYRNE. The lads told him no person could carry them things through the briars, and steep, slippy-feeling rocks he'll be climbing above, so he looked round then, and gave the water, and his big cloak, and his bell to the two of us, for young girls, says he, are the cleanest holy people you'd see walking the world.

 

Mary Doul goes near seat.

 

MARY DOUL sits down, laughing to herself. Well, the saint's a simple fellow, and it's no lie.

MARTIN DOUL leaning forward, holding out his hands. Let you give me the water in my hand, Molly Byrne, the way I'll know you have it surely.

MOLLY BYRNE giving it to him. Wonders is queer things, and maybe it'd cure you, and you holding it alone.

MARTIN DOUL looking round. It does not, Molly. I'm not seeing at all. He shakes the can. There's a small sup only. Well, isn't it a great wonder the little trifling thing would bring seeing to the blind, and be showing us the big women and the young girls, and all the fine things is walking the world. He feels for Mary Doul and gives her the can.

 

MARY DOUL shaking it. Well, glory be to God –

MARTIN DOUL pointing to Bride. And what is it herself has, making sounds in her hand?

BRIDE crossing to Martin Doul. It's the saint's bell, you'll hear him ringing out the time he'll be going up some place, to be saying his prayers.

 

Martin Doul holds out his hands; she gives it to him.

 

MARTIN DOUL ringing it. It's a sweet, beautiful sound.

MARY DOUL. You'd know I'm thinking by the little silvery voice of it, a fasting holy man was after carrying it a great way at his side.

 

Bride crosses a little right behind Martin Doul.

 

MOLLY BYRNE unfolding Saint's cloak. Let you stand up now, Martin Doul, till I put his big cloak on you, the way we'd see how you'd look, and you a saint of the Almighty God.

MARTIN DOUL rises, comes forward centre, a little diffidently. I've heard the priests a power of times making great talk and praises of the beauty of the saints.

 

Molly Byrne slips cloak round him.

 

TIMMY uneasily. You'd have a right to be leaving him alone, Molly. What would the saint say if he seen you making game with his cloak?

MOLLY BYRNE recklessly. How would he see us, and he saying prayers in the wood? She turns Martin Doul round. Isn't that a fine holylooking saint, Timmy the smith? Laughing foolishly.