PEGEEN -- [speaking across the counter.] -- He's right too, and have you no
shame, Michael James, to be quitting off for the whole night, and leaving
myself lonesome in the shop?

MICHAEL -- [good-humouredly.] Isn't it the same whether I go for the whole
night or a part only? and I'm thinking it's a queer daughter you are if you'd
have me crossing backward through the Stooks of the Dead Women, with a drop
taken.

PEGEEN. If I am a queer daughter, it's a queer father'd be leaving me
lonesome these twelve hours of dark, and I piling the turf with the dogs
barking, and the calves mooing, and my own teeth rattling with the fear.

JIMMY -- [flatteringly.] -- What is there to hurt you, and you a fine, hardy
girl would knock the head of any two men in the place?

PEGEEN -- [working herself up.] -- Isn't there the harvest boys with their
tongues red for drink, and the ten tinkers is camped in the east glen, and the
thousand militia -- bad cess to them! -- walking idle through the land.
There's lots surely to hurt me, and I won't stop alone in it, let himself do
what he will.

MICHAEL. If you're that afeard, let Shawn Keogh stop along with you. It's
the will of God, I'm thinking, himself should be seeing to you now. [They all
turn on Shawn.]

SHAWN -- [in horrified confusion.] -- I would and welcome, Michael James, but
I'm afeard of Father Reilly; and what at all would the Holy Father and the
Cardinals of Rome be saying if they heard I did the like of that?