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THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD

walking off to wakes or weddings in death with the fear. (Looking out of
the darkness of the night. door.)
PEGEEN -- (with rather scornful SHAWN -- (timidly.) Would I
good humour.) -- You're making fetch you the widow Quin, maybe?
mighty certain, Shaneen, that I'll wed PEGEEN. Is it the like of that
you now. murderer? You'll not, surely.
SHAWN. Aren't we after making SHAWN -- (going to her, sooth-
a good bargain, the way we're only ingly.) -- Then I'm thinking himself
waiting these days on Father Reilly's will stop along with you when he sees
dispensation from the bishops, or the you taking on, for it'll be a long night
Court of Rome. -time with great darkness, and I'm
PEGEEN -- (looking at him teas- after feeling a kind of fellow above in
ingly, washing up at dresser.) -- It's a the furzy ditch, groaning wicked like
wonder, Shaneen, the Holy Father'd a maddening dog, the way it's good
be taking notice of the likes of you; cause you have, maybe, to be fearing
for if I was him I wouldn't bother now.
with this place where you'll meet PEGEEN -- (turning on him
none but Red Linahan, has a squint sharply.) -- What's that? Is it a man
in his eye, and Patcheen is lame in you seen?
his heel, or the mad Mulrannies were SHAWN -- (retreating.) I couldn't
driven from California and they lost see him at all; but I heard him groan-
in their wits. We're a queer lot these ing out, and breaking his heart. It
times to go troubling the Holy Father should have been a young man from
on his sacred seat. his words speaking.
SHAWN -- (scandalized.) If we PEGEEN -- (going after him.) --
are, we're as good this place as anoth- And you never went near to see was he
er, maybe, and as good these times as hurted or what ailed him at all?
we were for ever. SHAWN. I did not, Pegeen Mike.
PEGEEN -- (with scorn.) -- As It was a dark, lonesome place to be
good, is it? Where now will you meet hearing the like of him.
the like of Daneen Sullivan knocked PEGEEN. Well, you're a daring
the eye from a peeler, or Marcus fellow, and if they find his corpse
Quin, God rest him, got six months stretched above in the dews of dawn,
for maiming ewes, and he a great war- what'll you say then to the peelers, or
rant to tell stories of holy Ireland till the Justice of the Peace?
he'd have the old women shedding SHAWN -- (thunderstruck.) I
down tears about their feet. Where wasn't thinking of that. For the love
will you find the like of them, I'm of God, Pegeen Mike, don't let on I
saying? was speaking of him. Don't tell your
SHAWN -- (timidly.) If you don't father and the men is coming above;
it's a good job, maybe; for (with pecu- for if they heard that story, they'd
liar emphasis on the words) Father have great blabbing this night at the
Reilly has small conceit to have that wake.
kind walking around and talking to PEGEEN. I'll maybe tell them,
the girls. and I'll maybe not.
PEGEEN -- (impatiently, throw- SHAWN. They are coming at the
ing water from basin out of the door.) door, Will you whisht, I'm saying?
-- Stop tormenting me with Father PEGEEN. Whisht yourself.
Reilly (imitating his voice) when I'm (She goes behind counter. Michael
asking only what way I'll pass these James, fat jovial publican, comes in
twelve hours of dark, and not take my followed by Philly Cullen, who is
thin and mistrusting, and Jimmy

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