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　walking　the　world；　looking　over　a　low　ditch　or　a
  high　ditch　on　my　north　or　my　south；　into　stony　scattered　fields；　or　scribes　of
  bog；　where　you'd　see　young；　limber　girls；　and　fine　prancing　women　making
  laughter　with　the　men。
  PEGEEN。　　If　you　weren't　destroyed　travelling；　you'd　have　as　much　talk　and
  streeleen；　I'm　thinking；　as　Owen　Roe　O'Sullivan　or　the　poets　of　the　Dingle
  Bay；　and　I've　heard　all　times　it's　the　poets　are　your　like；　fine　fiery　fellows
  with　great　rages　when　their　temper's　roused。
  CHRISTY　　＇drawing　a　little　nearer　to　her。＇　　You've　a　power　of　rings；　God
  bless　you；　and　would　there　be　any　offence　if　I　was　asking　are　you　single　now？
  PEGEEN。　　What　would　I　want　wedding　so　young？
  CHRISTY　　＇with　relief。＇　　We're　alike；　so。
  PEGEEN　　＇she　puts　sack　on　settle　and　beats　it　up。＇　　I　never　killed　my
  father。　　I'd　be　afeard　to　do　that；　except　I　was　the　like　of　yourself　with
  blind　rages　tearing　me　within；　for　I'm　thinking　you　should　have　had　great
  tussling　when　the　end　was　come。
  CHRISTY　　＇expanding　with　delight　at　the　first　confidential　talk　he　has　ever
  had　with　a　woman。＇　　We　had　not　then。　　It　was　a　hard　woman　was　come　over　the
  hill；　and　if　he　was　always　a　crusty　kind　when　he'd　a　hard　woman　setting　him
  on；　not　the　divil　himself　or　his　four　fathers　could　put　up　with　him　at　all。
  PEGEEN　　＇with　curiosity。＇　　And　isn't　it　a　great　wonder　that　one　wasn't
  fearing　you？
  CHRISTY　　＇very　confidentially。＇　　Up　to　the　day　I　killed　my　father；　there
  wasn't　a　person　in　Ireland　knew　the　kind　I　was；　and　I　there　drinking；　waking；
  eating；　sleeping；　a　quiet；　simple　poor　fellow　with　no　man　giving　me　heed。
  PEGEEN　　＇getting　a　quilt　out　of　the　cupboard　and　putting　it　on　the　sack。＇
  It　was　the　girls　were　giving　you　heed　maybe；　and　I'm　thinking　it's　most
  conceit　you'd　have　to　be　gaming　with　their　like。
  CHRISTY　　＇shaking　his　head；　with　simplicity。＇　　Not　the　girls　itself；　and　I
  won't　tell　you　a　lie。　　There　wasn't　anyone　heeding　me　in　that　place　saving
  only　the　dumb　beasts　of　the　field。　　＇He　sits　down　at　fire。＇
  PEGEEN　　＇with　disappointment。＇　　And　I　thinking　you　should　have　been　living
  the　like　of　a　king　of　Norway　or　the　Eastern　world。　＇She　comes　and　sits　beside
  him　after　placing　bread　and　mug　of　milk　on　the　table。＇
  CHRISTY　　＇laughing　piteously。＇　　The　like　of　a　king；　is　it？　　And　I　after
  toiling；　moiling；　digging；　dodging　from　the　dawn　till　dusk　with　never　a　sight
  of　joy　or　sport　saving　only　when　I'd　be　abroad　in　the　dark　night　poaching
  rabbits　on　hills；　for　I　was　a　devil　to　poach；　God　forgive　me；　（very　naively）
  and　I　near　got　six　months　for　going　with　a　dung　fork　and　stabbing　a　fish。
  PEGEEN。　　And　it's　that　you'd　call　sport；　is　it；　to　be　abroad　in　the　darkness
  with　yourself　alone？
  CHRISTY。　　I　did；　God　help　me；　and　there　I'd　be　as　happy　as　the　sunshine　of　St。
  Martin's　Day；　watching　the　light　passing　the　north　or　the　patches　of　fog；　till
  I'd　hear　a　rabbit　starting　to　screech　and　I'd　go　running　in　the　furze。　Then
  when　I'd　my　full　share　I'd　come　walking　down　where　you'd　see　the　ducks　and
  geese　stretched　sleeping　on　the　highway　of　the　road；　and　before　I'd　pass　the
  dunghill；　I'd　hear　himself　snoring　out；　a　loud　lonesome　snore　he'd　be　making
  all　times；　the　while　he　was　sleeping；　and　he　a　man　'd　be　raging　all　times；　the
  while　he　was　waking；　like　a　gaudy　officer　you'd　hear　cursing　and　damning　and
  swearing　oaths。
  PEGEEN。　　Providence　and　Mercy；　spare　us　all！
  CHRISTY。　　It's　that　you'd　say　surely　if　you　seen　him　and　he　after　drinking　for
  weeks；　rising　up　in　the　red　dawn；　or　before　it　maybe；　and　going　out　into　the
  yard　as　naked　as　an　ash　tree　in　the　moon　of　May；　and　shying　clods　against　the
  visage　of　the　stars　till　he'd　put　the　fear　of　death　into　the　banbhs　and　the
  screeching　sows。
  PEGEEN。　　I'd　be　well…night　afeard　of　that　lad　myself；　I'm　thinking。　　And　there
  was　no　one　in　it　but　the　two　of　you　alone？
  CHRISTY。　　The　divil　a　one；　though　he'd　sons　and　daughters　walking　all　great
  states　and　territories　of　the　world；　and　not　a　one　of　them；　to　this　day；　but
  would　say　their　seven　curses　on　him；　and　they　rousing　up　to　let　a　cough　or
  sneeze；　maybe；　in　the　deadness　of　the　night。
  PEGEEN　　＇nodding　her　head。＇　　Well；　you　should　have　been　a　queer　lot。　　I
  never　cursed　my　father　the　like　of　that；　though　I'm　twenty　and　more　years　of
  age。
  CHRISTY。　　Then　you'd　have　cursed　mine；　I'm　telling　you；　and　he　a　man　never
  gave　peace　to　any；　saving　when　he'd　get　two　months　or　three；　or　be　locked　in
  the　asylums　for　battering　peelers　or　assaulting　men　（with　depression）　the　way
  it　was　a　bitter　life　he　led　me　till　I　did　up　a　Tuesday　and　halve　his　skull。
  PEGEEN　　＇putting　her　hand　on　his　shoulder。＇　　Well；　you'll　have　peace　in
  this　place；　Christy　Mahon；　and　none　to　trouble　you；　and　it's　near　time　a　fine
  lad　like　you　should　have　your　good　share　of　the　earth。
  CHRISTY。　　It's　time　surely；　and　I　a　seemly　fellow　with　great　strength　in　me
  and　bravery　of　。　。　。　　＇Someone　knocks。＇
  CHRISTY　　＇clinging　to　Pegeen。＇　　Oh；　glory！　it's　late　for　knocking；　and
  this　last　while　I'm　in　terror　of　the　peelers；　and　the　walking　dead。　　＇Knocking
  again。＇
  PEGEEN。　　Who's　there？
  VOICE　　＇outside。＇　　Me。
  PEGEEN。　　Who's　me？
  VOICE。　　The　Widow　Quin。
  PEGEEN　　＇jumping　up　and　giving　him　the　bread　and　milk。＇　　Go　on　now　with　your
  supper；　and　let　on　to　be　sleepy；　for　if　she　found　you　were　such　a　warrant　to
  talk；　she'd　be　stringing　gabble　till　the　dawn　of　day。　　（He　takes　bread　and
  sits　shyly　with　his　back　to　the　door。）
  PEGEEN　　＇opening　door；　with　temper。＇　　What　ails　you；　or　what　is　it　you're
  wanting　at　this　hour　of　the　night？
  WIDOW　QUIN　　＇coming　in　a　step　and　peering　at　Christy。＇　　I'm　after　meeting
  Shawn　Keogh　and　Father　Reilly　below；　who　told　me　of　your　curiosity　man；　and
  they　fearing　by　this　time　he　was　maybe　roaring；　romping　on　your　hands　with
  drink。
  PEGEEN　　＇pointing　to　Christy。＇　　Look　now　is　he　roaring；　and　he　stretched
  away　drowsy　with　his　supper　and　his　mug　of　milk。　Walk　down　and　tell　that　to
  Father　Reilly　and　to　Shaneen　Keogh。
  WIDOW　QUIN　　＇coming　forward。＇　　I'll　not　see　them　again；　for　I've　their
  word　to　lead　that　lad　forward　for　to　lodge　with　me。
  PEGEEN　　＇in　blank　amazement。＇　　This　night；　is　it？
  WIDOW　QUIN　　＇going　over。＇　　This　night。　　〃It　isn't　fitting；〃　says　the
  priesteen；　〃to　have　his　likeness　lodging　with　an　orphaned　girl。〃　　（To
  Christy。）　　God　save　you；　mister！
  CHRISTY　　＇shyly。＇　　God　save　you　kindly。
  WIDOW　QUIN　　＇looking　at　him　with　half…amazed　curiosity。＇　　Well；　aren't　you
  a　little　smiling　fellow？　　It　should　have　been　great　and　bitter　torments　did
  rouse　your　spirits　to　a　deed　of　blood。
  CHRISTY　　＇doubtfully。＇　　It　should；　maybe。
  WIDOW　QUIN。　　It's　more　than　〃maybe〃　I'm　saying；　and　it'd　soften　my　heart　to
  see　you　sitting　so　simple　with　your　cup　and　cake；　and　you　fitter　to　be　saying
  your　catechism　than　slaying　your　da。
  PEGEEN　　　＇at　counter；　washing　glasses。＇　　There's　talking　when　any'd　see
  he's　fit　to　be　holding　his　head　high　with　the　wonders　of　the　world。　　Walk　on
  from　this；　for　I'll　not　have　him　tormented　and　he　destroyed　travelling　since
  Tuesday　was　a　week。
  WIDOW　QUIN　　＇peaceably。＇　　We'll　be　walking　surely　when　his　supper's　done；
  and　you'll　find　we're　great　company；　young　fellow；　when　it's　of　the　like　of
  you　and　me　you'd　hear　the　penny　poets　singing　in　an　August　Fair。
  CHRISTY　　＇innocently。＇　　Did　you　kill　your　father？
  PEGEEN　　＇contemptuously。＇　　She　did　not。　　She　hit　himself　with　a　worn　pick；
  and　the　rusted　poison　did　corrode　his　blood　the　way　he　never　overed　it；　and
  died　after。　　That　was　a　sneaky　kind　of　murder　did　win　small　glory　with　the
  boys　itself。　＇She　crosses　to　Christy's　left。＇
  WIDOW　QUIN　　＇with　good…humour。＇　　If　it　didn't；　maybe　all　knows　a　widow
  woman　has　buried　her　children　and　destroyed　her　man　is　a　wiser　comrade　for　a
  young　lad　than　a　girl；　the　like　of　you；　who'd　go　helter…skeltering　after　any
  man　wou