THE CHILD
The wine is bitter. 
Old mother, have you no sweet food for me?

BRIDGET BRUIN
I have some honey!

(She goes into the next room.)

MAURTEEN BRUIN
You are a dear child;
The mother was quite cross before you came.

(BRIDGET returns with the honey, and goes to the dresser
and fills a porringer with milk.)

                      BRIDGET BRUIN

She is the child of gentle people; look
At her white hands and at her pretty dress. 
I’ve brought you some new milk, but wait awhile,
And I will put it by the fire to warm,
For things well fitted for poor folk like us
Would never please a high-born child like you.

                        THE CHILD
  Old mother, my old mother, the green dawn
  Brightens above while you blow up the fire;
  And evening finds you spreading the white cloth. 
  The young may lie in bed and dream and hope,
  But you work on because your heart is old.

BRIDGET BRUIN
The young are idle.

THE CHILD
Old father, you are wise
And all the years have gathered in your heart
To whisper of the wonders that are gone. 
The young must sigh through many a dream and hope,
But you are wise because your heart is old.

MAURTEEN BRUIN
Oh, who would think to find so young a child
Loving old age and wisdom?

(BRIDGET gives her more bread and honey.)

THE CHILD
No more, mother.

MAURTEEN BRUIN
What a small bite!  The milk is ready now;
What a small sip!

                      THE CHILD

Put on my shoes, old mother,
For I would like to dance now I have eaten. 
The reeds are dancing by Coolaney lake,
And I would like to dance until the reeds
And the white waves have danced themselves to sleep.

                        BRIDGET
    (Having put on her shoes, she gets off the old man’s knees
      and is about to dance, but suddenly sees the crucifix
      and shrieks and covers her eyes.)
  What is that ugly thing on the black cross?

FATHER HART
You cannot know how naughty your words are! 
That is our Blessed Lord!

THE CHILD
Hide it away!

BRIDGET BRUIN
I have begun to be afraid, again!

THE CHILD
Hide it away!

MAURTEEN BRUIN
That would be wickedness!

BRIDGET BRUIN
That would be sacrilege!

THE CHILD
The tortured thing! 
Hide it away!

MAURTEEN BRUIN
Her parents are to blame.

FATHER HART
That is the image of the Son of God.

(THE CHILD puts her arm around his neck and kisses him.)

THE CHILD
Hide it away!  Hide it away!

MAURTEEN BRUIN
No! no!

FATHER HART
Because you are so young and little a child
I will go take it down.