with a pack of wild girls the like of them do be walking abroad with the
peelers, talking whispers at the fall of night.

CHRISTY -- [with terror.] -- And you're thinking they'd tell?

PEGEEN -- [with mock sympathy.] -- Who knows, God help you.

CHRISTY -- [loudly.] What joy would they have to bring hanging to the likes
of me?

PEGEEN. It's queer joys they have, and who knows the thing they'd do, if it'd
make the green stones cry itself to think of you swaying and swiggling at the
butt of a rope, and you with a fine, stout neck, God bless you! the way you'd
be a half an hour, in great anguish, getting your death.

CHRISTY -- [getting his boots and putting them on.] -- If there's that terror
of them, it'd be best, maybe, I went on wandering like Esau or Cain and Abel
on the sides of Neifin or the Erris plain.

PEGEEN [beginning to play with him.] -- It would, maybe, for I've heard the
Circuit Judges this place is a heartless crew.

CHRISTY -- [bitterly.] It's more than Judges this place is a heartless crew.
(Looking up at her.) And isn't it a poor thing to be starting again and I a
lonesome fellow will be looking out on women and girls the way the needy
fallen spirits do be looking on the Lord?

PEGEEN. What call have you to be that lonesome when there's poor girls
walking Mayo in their thousands now?