CHRISTOPHER MAHON. OLD MAHON, _his father, a squatter_. MICHAEL JAMES FLAHERTY (called MICHAEL JAMES), _a publican_. MARGARET FLAHERTY (called PEGEEN MIKE), _his daughter_. SHAWN KEOUGH, _her cousin, a young farmer_. WIDOW QUIN, _a woman of about thirty_. PHILLY CULLEN and JIMMY FARRELL, _small farmers_. SARA TANSEY, SUSAN BRADY, and HONOR BLAKE, _village girls_. A BELLMAN. SOME PEASANTS.
The action takes place near a village, on a wild coast of Mayo. The first Act passes on an evening of autumn, the other two Acts on the following day.
SCENE: Country public-house or shebeen, very rough and untidy. There is a sort of counter on the right with shelves, holding many bottles and jugs, just seen above it. Empty barrels stand near the counter. At back, a little to left of counter, there is a door into the open air, then, more to the left, there is a settle with shelves above it, with more jugs, and a table beneath a window. At the left there is a large open fire-place, with turf fire, and a small door into inner room. Pegeen, a wild-looking but fine girl, of about twenty, is writing at table. She is dressed in the usual peasant dress.
PEGEEN. _slowly as she writes._—Six yards of stuff for to make a yellow gown. A pair of lace boots with lengthy heels on them and brassy eyes. A hat is suited for a wedding-day. A fine tooth comb. To be sent with three barrels of porter in Jimmy Farrell’s creel cart on the evening of the coming Fair to Mister Michael James Flaherty. With the best compliments of this season. Margaret Flaherty.
SHAWN KEOGH. _a fat and fair young man comes in as she signs, looks round awkwardly, when he sees she is alone._—Where’s himself?
PEGEEN. _without looking at him._—He’s coming. (_She directs the letter._) To Mister Sheamus Mulroy, Wine and Spirit Dealer, Castlebar.
SHAWN. _uneasily._—I didn’t see him on the road.
PEGEEN. How would you see him (_licks stamp and puts it on letter_) and it dark night this half hour gone by?
SHAWN. _turning towards the door again._—I stood a while outside wondering would I have a right to pass on or to walk in and see you, Pegeen Mike (_comes to fire_), and I could hear the cows breathing, and sighing in the stillness of the air, and not a step moving any place from this gate to the bridge.
