SHEELA.  If himself were to go out willingly, there would be no virtue in his curse then.

MAURYA.  There would not, but he will not go out willingly, and I cannot rout him out myself for fear of his curse.

SHEELA.  Look at poor Sheamus.  He is going over to her. 
(SHEAMUS gets up and goes over to her.)

SHEAMUS.  Will you dance this reel with me, Oona, as soon as the piper is ready?

HANRAHAN (rising up).  I am Tumaus Hanrahan, and I am speaking now to Oona ni Regaun; and as she is willing to be talking to me, I will allow no living person to come between us.

SHEAMUS (without heeding HANRAHAN).  Will you not dance with me, Oona?

HANRAHAN (savagely).  Didn’t I tell you now that it was to me Oona ni Regaun was talking?  Leave that on the spot, you clown, and do not raise a disturbance here.

SHEAMUS.  Oona——­

HANRAHAN (shouting).  Leave that! (SHEAMUS goes
away, and comes over to the two old women.)

SHEAMUS.  Maurya Regaun, I am asking leave of you to throw that ill-mannerly, drunken vagabond out of the house.  Myself and my two brothers will put him out if you will allow us; and when he’s outside I’ll settle with him.

MAURYA.  Sheamus, do not; I am afraid of him.  That man has a curse they say that would split the trees.

SHEAMUS.  I don’t care if he had a curse that would overthrow the heavens; it is on me it will fall, and I defy him!  If he were to kill me on the moment, I will not allow him to put his spells on Oona.  Give me leave, Maurya.

SHEELA.  Do not, Sheamus.  I have a better advice than that.

SHEAMUS.  What advice is that?

SHEELA.  I have a way in my head to put him out.  If you follow my advice, he will go out himself as quiet as a lamb; and when you get him out, slap the door on him, and never let him in again.

MAURYA.  Luck from God on you, Sheela, and tell us what’s in your head.

SHEELA.  We will do it as nice and easy as you ever saw.  We will put him to twist a hay-rope till he is outside, and then we will shut the door on him.

SHEAMUS.  It’s easy to say, but not easy to do.  He will say to you, “Make a hay-rope yourself.”

SHEELA.  We will say then that no one ever saw a hay-rope made, that there is no one at all in the house to make the beginning of it.

SHEAMUS.  But will he believe that we never saw a hay-rope?

SHEELA.  He believe it, is it?  He’d believe anything; he’d believe that himself is king over Ireland when he has a glass taken, as he has now.

SHEAMUS.  But what excuse can we make for saying we want a hay-rope?

MAURYA.  Can’t you think of something yourself, Sheamus?

SHEAMUS.  Sure, I can say the wind is rising, and I must bind the thatch, or it will be off the house.

SHEELA.  But he’ll know the wind is not rising if he does but listen at the door.  You must think of some other excuse, Sheamus.