MARY -- innocently. -- Is that the truth?
PRIEST. --* It is, then, and God have mercy
on your soul.
[The priest goes towards the left, and
Sarah follows him.


27

SARAH -- in a low voice. -- And what
time will you do the thing I'm asking, holy
father? for I'm thinking you'll do it surely,
and not have me growing into an old wicked
heathen like herself.
MARY -- calling out shrilly. -- Let you be
walking back here, Sarah Casey, and not be
talking whisper-talk with the like of him in the
face of the Almighty God.
SARAH -- to the priest. -- Do you hear her
now, your reverence? Isn't it true, surely,
she's an old, flagrant heathen, would destroy
the world?
PRIEST -- to Sarah, moving off. -- Well,
I'll be coming down early to the chapel, and let
you come to me a while after you see me pas-
sing, and bring the bit of gold along with you,
and the tin can. I'll marry you for them two,
though it's a pitiful small sum; for I wouldn't
be easy in my soul if I left you growing into
an old, wicked heathen the like of her.