Three Wonder Plays Part 29

_Conan_: What ailed me that I didn't leave her as she was before.

_Celia: (Stopping work.)_ What way are they now?

_Conan: (Having cleaned his boots, putting them on hurriedly.)_ They're very good. _(Wipes his brow, drawing hand across leaving mark of blacking.)_

_Celia_: The time I told you to put black on your shoes I didn't bid you rub it upon your brow!

_Conan_: I didn't put it in any wrong place.

_Celia_: I ask the whole of you, is it black his face is or white?

_All_: It is black indeed.

_Celia_: Would you put a reproach on the whole of the barony, going up among big citizens with a face on you the like of that?

_Conan_: I'll do well enough. There will be the black of the smoke from the engine on it any way, and I after journeying in the train.

_Celia_: You will not go be a disgrace to me.

_Conan_: If it is black it is yourself forced me to it.

_Celia_: If I did I'll make up for it, putting a clean face upon you now. _(Dips towel in pail and sings "With a fillip"--air, "Garryowen"--as she washes him.)_

"Bring to mind how the thrush gathers twigs for his nest And the honey bee toils without ever a rest And the fishes swim ever to keep themselves clean, And you'll praise me for making you fit to be seen!

With a fillip, a fillip, a fillip.

A fillip, a fillip, a fillip.

A fillip, a fillip, a fillip, a fillip, A fillip, a fillip, a fillip, a fillip!"

_Conan_: Let me go, will you! Let you stop!

The soap that is going into my eye!

_Celia_: My grief you are! Let you be willing to suffer, so long as you will be tasty and decent and be a credit to ourselves.

_Conan_: The suds are in my mouth!

_Celia_: One minute now and you'll be as clean as a bishop!

_Conan_: Let me go, can't you!

_Celia_: Only one thing wanting now.

_Conan_: I'm good enough, I tell you!

_Celia_: To cut the wisp from the back of your poll.

_Conan_: You will not cut it!

_Celia_: And you'll go into the grandeurs of Dublin and you being as neat as an egg.

_Conan: (With a roar.)_ Leave meddling with my hair. I that can change the world with one turn of my hand!

_Celia_: Wait till I'll find the scissors! That's not the way to be going showing off in the town, if you were all the saints and Druids of the universe!

_Conan: (Breaking free and rus.h.i.+ng out.)_ My seven thousand curses on the minute when I didn't leave you as you were. _(Goes.)_

_Celia: (Looking at Mother.)_ There's meal on your dress from the cake you're after putting in the oven--where now did that bellows fall from?

_(Taking up bellows.)_ It comes as handy as a gimlet. There _(blows the meal off)_, that now will make a big difference in you.

_Rock: (Seizing bellows.)_ Leave now that down out of your hand. Let you go looking for a scissors!

_(Celia goes off singing "The Beautiful City of Sligo.")_

_Mother: (Sitting down.)_ I'm thinking it's seven years to-day, James Rock, since you took a lend of my clock.

_Rock_: You're raving! What call would I have to ask a lend of your clock?

_Mother_: The way you would rise in time for the fair of Feakle in the morning.

_Rock_: Did I now?

_Mother_: You did, and that's my truth. I was standing here, and you were standing there, and Celia that was but ten years was sucking the sugar off a spoon I was after putting in a bag that had come from the shop, for to put a grain into my tea.

_Rock: (Sneering.)_ Well now, didn't your memory get very sharp!

_Mother_: You thought I had it forgot, but I remember it as clear as pictures. The time it stood at was seven minutes after four o'clock, and I never saw it from that day till now. This very day of the month it was, the year of the black sheep having twins.

_Rock_: It was but an old clock anyway.

_Mother_: If it was it is seven years older since I laid an eye on it. And it's kind father for you robbing me, where it's often you robbed your own mother, and you stealing away to go cardplaying the half crowns she had hid in the churn.

_Rock_: Didn't you get very wicked and hurtful, you that was a nice cla.s.s of a woman without no harm!

_Flannery_: Ah, Ma'am, you that was easy-minded, it is not kind for you to be a scold.

_Mother_: And another thing, it was the same day where Michael Flannery _(turns to him)_ came in an' told me of you being grown so covetous you had made away with your dog, by reason you begrudged it its diet.

_Rock: (To Flannery.)_ You had a great deal to say about me!

_Mother_: And more than that again, he said you had it buried secretly, and had it personated, creeping around the haggard in the half dark and you barking, the way the neighbours would think it to be living yet and as wicked as it was before.

_Rock: (To Flannery.)_ I'll bring you into the Courts for telling lies!

_Mother: (Coming near Rock and speaking into his ear.)_ And there's another thing I know, and that I made a promise to her that was your wife not to tell, but death has that promise broke.

_Rock_: Stop, can't you!

_Mother_: I know by sure witness that it was you found the forty pound _he (points to Flannery, who nods)_ lost on the road, and kept it for your own profit. Bring me now, I dare you, into the Courts!

_Rock: (Fearfully.)_ That one would remember the world! It is as if she went to the grinding young!