LIZZIE (_aside to_ JOHN). He's fair daft!
LIZZIE (_beating her hands together distractedly_). He'll be --We'll--He'll--Och!!! (_Resigned and beaten_) John, go and bring wee Alexander in here.
(JOHN _is off like a shot. The opening of the door of the other room can be told by the burst of_ ALEXANDER'S _voice. The old man's wails have stopped the second his daughter capitulated. JOHN returns with_ ALEXANDER _and bears him to his grandfather's waiting knee. The boy's tears and howls have ceased and he is smiling triumphantly. He is of course in his night-shirt and a blanket, which Grandpa wraps round him, turning toward the fire._)
LIZZIE (_looking on with many nods of the head and smacks of the lips_). There you are! That's the kind o' boy he is. Greet his heart oot for a thing an' stop the moment he gets it.
DAVID. Dae ye expect him to gae on after he's got it? Ah, but, Alexander, ye didna get it yer lane this time; it took the twa o' us. An' hard work it was for the Auld Yin! Man! (_Playing hoarse_)
I doot I've enough voice left for a--(_Bursting out very loud and making the boy laugh._) Aweel! Whit's it gaein' to be--eh?
[Footnote 1: Included by special permission of Lady Gregory and of Messrs. G.P. Putnam's Sons, the publishers of _Seven Short Plays_ (1909), and other volumes of Lady Gregory's works. Application for acting rights must be made to Samuel French, 28 West 38th Street, New York City.]
BARTLEY FALLON MRS. FALLON JACK SMIT SHAWN EARLY TIM CASEY JAMES RYAN MRS. TARPEY MRS. TULLY JOE MULDOON, a policeman A REMOVABLE MAGISTRATE
SCENE: _The outskirts of a Fair. An Apple Stall._ MRS. TARPEY _sitting at it._ MAGISTRATE _and_ POLICEMAN _enter._
MAGISTRATE. So that is the Fair Green. Cattle and sheep and mud. No system. What a repulsive sight!
MAGISTRATE. I suppose there is a good deal of disorder in this place?
MAGISTRATE. Boycotting? Maiming of cattle? Firing into houses?
POLICEMAN. There was one time, and there might be again.
MAGISTRATE. That is bad. Does it go any farther than that?
MAGISTRATE. Homicide, then! This district has been shamefully neglected! I will change all that. When I was in the Andaman Islands, my system never failed. Yes, yes, I will change all that. What has that woman on her stall?