Sarah. Glory to the saints of joy!

Priest. Did ever any man see the like of that? To think you’d be putting deceit on me, and telling lies to me, and I going to marry you for a little sum wouldn’t marry a child.

Sarah (crestfallen and astonished). It’s the divil did it, your reverence, and I wouldn’t tell you a lie. (Raising her hands.) May the Lord Almighty strike me dead if the divil isn’t after hooshing the tin can from the bag.

Priest (vehemently). Go along now, and don’t be swearing your lies. Go along now, and let you not be thinking I’m big fool enough to believe the like of that when it’s after selling it you are, or making a swap for drink of it, maybe, in the darkness of the night.

Mary (in a peacemaking voice, putting her hand on the Priest’s left arm). She wouldn’t do the like of that, your reverence, when she hasn’t a decent standing drouth on her at all; and she setting great store on her marriage the way you’d have a right to be taking her easy, and not minding the can. What differ would an empty can make with a fine, rich, hardy man the like of you?

Sarah (imploringly). Marry us, your reverence, for the ten shillings in gold, and we’ll make you a grand can in the evening—a can would be fit to carry water for the holy man of God. Marry us now and I’ll be saying fine prayers for you, morning and night, if it’d be raining itself, and it’d be in two black pools I’d be setting my knees.

Priest (loudly). It’s a wicked, thieving, lying, scheming lot you are, the pack of you. Let you walk off now and take every stinking rag you have there from the ditch.

Mary (putting her shawl over her head). Marry her, your reverence, for the love of God, for there’ll be queer doings below if you send her off the like of that and she swearing crazy on the road.

Sarah (angrily). It’s the truth she’s saying; for it’s herself, I’m thinking, is after swapping the tin can for a pint, the time she was raging mad with the drouth, and ourselves above walking the hill.

Mary (crying out with indignation). Have you no shame, Sarah Casey, to tell lies unto a holy man?

Sarah (to Mary, working herself into a rage). It’s making game of me you’d be, and putting a fool’s head on me in the face of the world; but if you were thinking to be mighty cute walking off, or going up to hide in the church, I’ve got you this time, and you’ll not run from me now.

She seizes one of the bottles.

Mary (hiding behind the priest). Keep her off, your reverence; keep her off, for the love of the Almighty God. What at all would the Lord Bishop say if he found me here lying with my head broken across, or the two of yous maybe digging a bloody grave for me at the door of the church?

Priest (waving Sarah off). Go along, Sarah Casey. Would you be doing murder at my feet? Go along from me now, and wasn’t I a big fool to have to do with you when it’s nothing but distraction and torment I get from the kindness of my heart?

Sarah (shouting). I’ve bet a power of strong lads east and west through the world, and are you thinking I’d turn back from a priest? Leave the road now, or maybe I would strike yourself.

Priest. You would not, Sarah Casey. I’ve no fear for the lot of you; but let you walk off, I’m saying, and not be coming where you’ve no business, and screeching tumult and murder at the doorway of the church.