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?
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.
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.