INTHESHADOWOFTHEGLEN
　　APLAYINONEACT
　　FirstperformedattheMolesworthHall，Dublin，October8th，1903。
　　PERSONS
　　DANBURKE（farmerandherd）。GeorgeRobertsNORABURKE（hiswife）……MaireNicShiubhlaighMICHEALDARA（ayoungherd）。P。J。KellyATRAMP……W。G。FayINTHESHADOWOFTHEGLEN
　　APLAYINONEACT
　　SCENE。——{ThelastcottageattheheadofalonggleninCountyWicklow。
　　Cottagekitchen;turffireontheright;abednearitagainstthewallwithabodylyingonitcoveredwithasheet。Adoorisattheotherendoftheroom，withalowtablenearit，andstools，orwoodenchairs。Thereareacoupleofglassesonthetable，andabottleofwhisky，asifforawake，withtwocups，ateapot，andahome—madecake。Thereisanothersmalldoornearthebed。NoraBurkeismovingabouttheroom，settlingafewthings，andlightingcandlesonthetable，lookingnowandthenatthebedwithanuneasylook。Someoneknockssoftlyatthedoor。Shetakesupastockingwithmoneyfromthetableandputsitinherpocket。Thensheopensthedoor。}
　　TRAMP
　　{Outside。}
　　Goodeveningtoyou，ladyofthehouse。
　　NORA
　　Goodevening，kindlystranger，it’sawildnight，Godhelpyou，tobeoutintherainfalling。
　　TRAMP
　　Itis，surely，andIwalkingtoBrittasfromtheAughrimfair。
　　NORA
　　Isitwalkingonyourfeet，stranger？
　　TRAMP
　　Onmytwofeet，ladyofthehouse，andwhenIsawthelightbelowIthoughtmaybeifyou’dasupofnewmilkandaquietdecentcornerwhereamancouldsleep{helooksinpastherandseesthedeadman。}TheLordhavemercyonusall！
　　NORA
　　Itdoesn’tmatteranyway，stranger，comeinoutoftherain。
　　TRAMP
　　{Cominginslowlyandgoingtowardsthebed。}
　　Isitdepartedheis？
　　NORA
　　Itis，stranger。He’safterdyingonme，Godforgivehim，andthereIamnowwithahundredsheepbeyondonthehills，andnoturndrawnforthewinter。
　　TRAMP
　　{Lookingcloselyatthedeadman。}
　　It’saqueerlookisonhimforamanthat’sdead。
　　NORA
　　{Half—humorously。}
　　Hewasalwaysqueer，stranger，andIsupposethemthat’squeerandtheylivingmenwillbequeerbodiesafter。
　　TRAMP
　　Isn’titagreatwonderyou’relettinghimliethere，andheisnottidied，orlaidoutitself？
　　NORA
　　{Comingtothebed。}
　　Iwasafeard，stranger，forheputablackcurseonmethismorningifI’ldtouchhisbodythetimehe’lddiesudden，orletanyonetouchitexcepthissisteronly，andit’stenmilesawayshelivesinthebigglenoverthehill。
　　TRAMP
　　{Lookingatherandnoddingslowly。}
　　It’saqueerstoryhewouldn’tlethisownwifetouchhim，andhedyingquietinhisbed。
　　NORA
　　Hewasanoldman，andanoddman，stranger，andit’salwaysuponthehillshewasthinkingthoughtsinthedarkmist。{Shepullsbackabitofthesheet。}Layyourhandonhimnow，andtellmeifit’scoldheissurely。
　　TRAMP
　　Isitgettingthecurseonmeyou’ldbe，womanofthehouse？I
　　wouldn’tlaymyhandonhimfortheLoughNahanagananditfilledwithgold。
　　NORA
　　{Lookinguneasilyatthebody。}
　　Maybecoldwouldbenosignofdeathwiththelikeofhim，forhewasalwayscold，everydaysinceIknewhim，——andeverynight，stranger，——{shecoversuphisfaceandcomesawayfromthebed};butI’mthinkingit’sdeadheissurely，forhe’scomplainingawhilebackofapaininhisheart，andthismorning，thetimehewasgoingofftoBrittasforthreedaysorfour，hewastakenwithasharpturn。Thenhewentintohisbedandhewassayingitwasdestroyedhewas，thetimetheshadowwasgoingupthroughtheglen，andwhenthesunsetonthebogbeyondhemadeagreatlep，andletagreatcryoutofhim，andstiffenedhimselfoutthelikeofadeadsheep。
　　TRAMP
　　{Crosseshimself。}
　　Godresthissoul。
　　NORA
　　{Pouringhimoutaglassofwhisky。}
　　MaybethatwoulddoyoubetterthanthemilkofthesweetestcowinCountyWicklow。
　　TRAMP
　　TheAlmightyGodrewardyou，andmayitbetoyourgoodhealth。
　　{Hedrinks。}
　　NORA
　　{Givinghimapipeandtobacco。}
　　I’venopipessavinghisown，stranger，butthey’resweetpipestosmoke。
　　TRAMP
　　Thankyoukindly，ladyofthehouse。
　　NORA
　　Sitdownnow，stranger，andbetakingyourrest。
　　TRAMP
　　{Fillingapipeandlookingabouttheroom。}
　　I’vewalkedagreatwaythroughtheworld，ladyofthehouse，andseengreatwonders，butIneverseenawaketillthisdaywithfinespirits，andgoodtobacco，andthebestofpipes，andnoonetotastethembutawomanonly。
　　NORA
　　Didn’tyouhearmesayitwasonlyafterdyingonmehewaswhenthesunwentdown，andhowwouldIgooutintotheglenandtelltheneighbours，andIalonewomanwithnohousenearme？
　　TRAMP
　　{Drinking。}
　　There’snooffence，ladyofthehouse？
　　NORA
　　Nooffenceinlife，stranger。Howwouldthelikeofyou，passinginthedarknight，knowthelonesomewayIwaswithnohousenearmeatall？
　　TRAMP
　　{Sittingdown。}
　　Iknewrightly。{Helightshispipesothatthereisasharplightbeneathhishaggardface。}AndIwasthinking，andI
　　cominginthroughthedoor，thatit’smanyalonewomanwouldbeafeardofthelikeofmeinthedarknight，inaplacewouldn’tbesolonesomeasthisplace，wheretherearen’ttwolivingsoulswouldseethelittlelightyouhaveshiningfromtheglass。
　　NORA
　　{Slowly。}
　　I’mthinkingmanywouldbeafeard，butIneverknewwhatwayI’dbeafeardofbeggarorbishoporanymanofyouatall。{Shelookstowardsthewindowandlowershervoice。}It’sotherthingsthanthelikeofyou，stranger，wouldmakeapersonafeard。
　　TRAMP
　　{Lookingroundwithahalf—shudder。}
　　Itissurely，Godhelpusall！
　　NORA
　　{Lookingathimforamomentwithcuriosity。}
　　You’resayingthat，stranger，asifyouwereeasyafeard。
　　TRAMP
　　{Speakingmournfully。}
　　Isitmyself，ladyofthehouse，thatdoesbewalkingroundinthelongnights，andcrossingthehillswhenthefogisonthem，thetimealittlestickwouldseemasbigasyourarm，andarabbitasbigasabayhorse，andastackofturfasbigasatoweringchurchinthecityofDublin？Ifmyselfwaseasilyafeard，I’mtellingyou，it’slongagoI’ldhavebeenlockedintotheRichmondAsylum，ormaybehaverunupintothebackhillswithnothingonmebutanoldshirt，andbeeneatenwithcrowsthelikeofPatchDarcy——theLordhavemercyonhim——intheyearthat’sgone。
　　NORA
　　{Withinterest。}
　　YouknewDarcy？
　　TRAMP
　　Wasn’tIthelastoneheardhislivingvoiceinthewholeworld？
　　NORA
　　Thereweregreatstoriesofwhatwasheardatthattime，butwouldanyonebelievethethingstheydobesayingintheglen？
　　TRAMP
　　Itwasnolie，ladyofthehouse……Iwaspassingbelowonadarknightthelikeofthisnight，andthesheepwerelyingundertheditchandeveryoneofthemcoughing，andchoking，likeanoldman，withthegreatrainandthefog。ThenIheardathingtalking——queertalk，youwouldn’tbelieveatall，andyououtofyourdreams，——and"MercifulGod，"saysI，"ifIbeginhearingthelikeofthatvoiceoutofthethickmist，I’mdestroyedsurely。"ThenIrun，andIrun，andIrun，tillIwasbelowinRathvanna。Igotdrunkthatnight，Igotdrunkinthemorning，anddrunkthedayafter，——Iwascomingfromtheracesbeyond——andthethirddaytheyfoundDarcy……ThenIknewitwashimselfIwasafterhearing，andIwasn’tafeardanymore。
　　NORA
　　{Speakingsorrowfullyandslowly。}
　　GodspareDarcy，he’ldalwayslookinhereandhepassinguporpassingdown，andit’sverylonesomeIwasafterhimalongwhile{shelooksoveratthebedandlowershervoice，speakingveryclearly，}andthenIgothappyagain——ifit’severhappyweare，stranger，——forIgotusedtobeinglonesome。
　　{Ashortpause;thenshestandsup。}
　　NORA
　　Wasthereanyoneonthelastbitoftheroad，stranger，andyoucomingfromAughrim？
　　TRAMP
　　Therewasayoungmanwithadriftofmountainewes，andherunningafterthemthiswayandthat。
　　NORA
　　{Withahalf—smile。}
　　Fardown，stranger？
　　TRAMP
　　Apieceonly。
　　{Shefillsthekettleandputsitonthefire。}
　　NORA
　　Maybe，ifyou’renoteasyafeard，you’ldstayhereashortwhilealonewithhimself。
　　TRAMP
　　Iwouldsurely。Amanthat’sdeadcandonohurt。
　　NORA
　　{Speakingwithasortofconstraint。}
　　I’mgoingalittlebacktothewest，stranger，forhimselfwouldgothereonenightandanotherandwhistleatthatplace，andthentheyoungmanyou’reafterseeing——akindofafarmerhascomeupfromtheseatoliveinacottagebeyond——wouldwalkroundtoseeiftherewasathingwe’ldhavetobedone，andI’mwantinghimthisnight，thewayhecangodownintotheglenwhenthesungoesupandtellthepeoplethathimselfisdead。
　　TRAMP
　　{Lookingatthebodyinthesheet。}
　　It’smyselfwillgoforhim，ladyofthehouse，andletyounotbedestroyingyourselfwiththegreatrain。
　　NORA
　　Youwouldn’tfindyourway，stranger，forthere’sasmallpathonly，anditrunningupbetweentwosluigswhereanassandcartwouldbedrowned。{Sheputsashawloverherhead。}Letyoubemakingyourselfeasy，andsayingaprayerforhissoul，andit’snotlongI’llbecomingagain。
　　TRAMP
　　{Movinguneasily。}
　　Maybeifyou’dapieceofagreythreadandasharpneedle——
　　there’sgreatsafetyinaneedle，ladyofthehouse——I’ldbeputtingalittlestitchhereandthereinmyoldcoat，thetimeI’llbeprayingforhissoul，anditgoingupnakedtothesaintsofGod。
　　NORA
　　{Takesaneedleandthreadfromthefrontofherdressandgivesittohim。}
　　There’stheneedle，stranger，andI’mthinkingyouwon’tbelonesome，andyouusedtothebackhills，forisn’tadeadmanitselfmorecompanythantobesittingalone，andhearingthewindscrying，andyounotknowingonwhatthingyourmindwouldstay？
　　TRAMP
　　{Slowly。}
　　It’strue，surely，andtheLordhavemercyonusall！
　　{Noragoesout。TheTrampbeginsstitchingoneofthetagsinhiscoat，sayingthe"DeProfundis"underhisbreath。Inaninstantthesheetisdrawnslowlydown，andDanBurkelooksout。
　　TheTrampmovesuneasily，thenlooksup，andspringstohisfeetwithamovementofterror。}
　　DAN
　　{Withahoarsevoice。}
　　Don’tbeafeard，stranger;amanthat’sdeadcandonohurt。
　　TRAMP
　　{Trembling。}
　　Imeantnoharm，yourhonour;andwon’tyouleavemeeasytobesayingalittleprayerforyoursoul？
　　{Alongwhistleisheardoutside。}
　　DAN
　　{Sittingupinhisbedandspeakingfiercely。}
　　Ah，thedevilmendher……Doyouhearthat，stranger？Dideveryouhearanotherwomancouldwhistlethelikeofthatwithtwofingersinhermouth？{Helooksatthetablehurriedly。}
　　I’mdestroyedwiththedrouth，andletyoubringmeadropquicklybeforeherselfwillcomeback。
　　TRAMP
　　{Doubtfully。}
　　Isitnotdeadyouare？
　　DAN
　　HowwouldIbedead，andIasdryasabakedbone，stranger？
　　TRAMP
　　{Pouringoutthewhisky。}
　　Whatwillherselfsayifshesmellsthestuffonyou，forI’mthinkingit’snotfornothingyou’relettingontobedead？
　　DAN
　　Itisnot，stranger，butshewon’tbecomingnearmeatall，andit’snotlongnowI’llbelettingon，forI’veacrampinmyback，andmyhip’sasleeponme，andthere’sbeenthedevil’sownflyitchingmynose。It’sneardeadIwaswantingtosneeze，andyoublatheringabouttherain，andDarcy{bitterly}——thedevilchokehim——andthetoweringchurch。{Cryingoutimpatiently。}
　　Givemethatwhisky。WouldyouhaveherselfcomebackbeforeI
　　tasteadropatall？
　　{Trampgiveshimtheglass。}
　　DAN
　　{Afterdrinking。}
　　Goovernowtothatcupboard，andbringmeablackstickyou’llseeinthewestcornerbythewall。
　　TRAMP
　　{Takingastickfromthecupboard}
　　Isitthat？
　　DAN
　　Itis，stranger;it’salongtimeI’mkeepingthatstickforI’veabadwifeinthehouse。
　　TRAMP
　　{Withaqueerlook。}
　　Isitherself，masterofthehouse，andsheagrandwomantotalk？
　　DAN
　　It’sherself，surely，it’sabadwifesheis——abadwifeforanoldman，andI’mgettingold，Godhelpme，thoughI’veanarmtomestill。{Hetakesthestickinhishand。}Letyouwaitnowashortwhile，andit’sagreatsightyou’llseeinthisroomintwohoursorthree。{Hestopstolisten。}Isthatsomebodyabove？
　　TRAMP
　　{Listening。}
　　There’savoicespeakingonthepath。
　　DAN
　　Putthatstickhereinthebedandsmooththesheetthewayitwaslying。{Hecovershimselfuphastily。}Befallingtosleepnowanddon’tletonyouknowanything，orI’llbehavingyourlife。Iwouldn’thavetoldyouatallbutit’sdestroyedwiththedrouthIwas。
　　TRAMP
　　{Coveringhishead。}
　　Havenofear，masterofthehouse。WhatisitIknowofthelikeofyouthatI’ldbesayingawordorputtingoutmyhandtostayyouatall？
　　{Hegoesbacktothefire，sitsdownonastoolwithhisbacktothebedandgoesonstitchinghiscoat。}
　　DAN
　　{Underthesheet，querulously。}
　　Stranger。
　　TRAMP
　　{Quickly。}
　　Whisht，whisht。BequietI’mtellingyou，they’recomingnowatthedoor。
　　{NoracomesinwithMichealDara，atall，innocentyoungmanbehindher。}