The Playboy of the Western World

them lads would be trusting their carcase, and that man should be a great terror when his temper’s roused.

Michael
He should then. To Christy. And where was it, mister honey, that you did the deed?


Christy
Looking at him with suspicion. Oh, a distant place, master of the house, a windy corner of high, distant hills.


Philly
Nodding with approval. He’s a close man, and he’s right, surely.


Pegeen
That’d be a lad with the sense of Solomon to have for a potboy, Michael James, if it’s the truth you’re seeking one at all.


Philly
The peelers is fearing him, and if you’d that lad in the house there isn’t one of them would come smelling around if the dogs itself were lapping poteen from the dungpit of the yard.


Jimmy
Bravery’s a treasure in a lonesome place, and a lad would kill his father, I’m thinking, would face a foxy divil with a pitchpike on the flags of hell.


Pegeen
It’s the truth they’re saying, and if I’d that lad in the house, I wouldn’t be fearing the loosed kharki cutthroats, or the walking dead.


Christy
Swelling with surprise and triumph. Well, glory be to God!


Michael
With deference. Would you think well to stop here and be potboy, 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?


Christy
Christopher Mahon.


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.


Christy
God bless you all.


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.


Shawn
Didn’t I say it was Father Reilly.⁠ ⁠…


Pegeen
Go on, then, to Father Reilly, In a jeering tone. and let him put you in the holy brotherhoods, and leave that lad to me.


Shawn
If I meet the Widow Quin.⁠ ⁠…


Pegeen
Go on, I’m saying, and don’t be waking this place with your noise. She hustles him out and bolts the door. That lad would wear the spirits from the saints of peace. Bustles about, then takes off her apron and pins it up in the window as a blind. Christy watching her timidly. Then she comes to him and speaks with bland good-humour. Let you stretch out now by the fire, young fellow. You should be destroyed travelling.


Christy
Shyly again, drawing off his boots. I’m tired, surely, walking wild eleven days, and waking fearful in the night. He holds up one of his feet, feeling his blisters, and looking at them with compassion.


Pegeen
Standing beside him, watching him with delight. You should have had great people in your family, I’m thinking, with the little, small feet you have, and you with a kind of a quality name, the like of what you’d find on the great powers and potentates of France and Spain.


Christy
With pride. We were great surely, with wide and windy acres of rich Munster land.


Pegeen
Wasn’t I telling you, and you a fine, handsome young fellow with a noble brow?


Christy
With a flash of delighted surprise. Is it me?


Pegeen
Aye. Did you never hear that from the young girls where you come from in the west or south?


Christy
With venom. I did not then. Oh, they’re bloody liars in the naked parish where I grew a man.


Pegeen
If they are itself, you’ve heard it these days, I’m thinking, and you walking the world telling out your story to young girls or old.


Christy
I’ve told my story no place till this night, Pegeen Mike, and it’s foolish I was here, maybe, to be talking free, but you’re decent people, I’m thinking, and yourself a kindly woman, the way I wasn’t fearing you at all.


Pegeen
Filling a sack with straw. You’ve said the like of that, maybe, in every cot and cabin where you’ve met a young girl on your way.


Christy
Going over to her, gradually raising his voice. I’ve said it nowhere till this night, I’m telling you, for I’ve seen none the like of you the eleven long days I am