[She sits down.
SARAH -- puzzled. -- Is that the truth?
MARY -- pleased with the point she has
made. -- Wouldn't any know it's the truth?
Ah, it's a few short years you are yet in the
world, Sarah Casey, and it's little or nothing
at all maybe you know about it.
SARAH -- vehement but uneasy. -- What
is it yourself knows of the fine ladies when
they wouldn't let the like of you go near them
at all?
MARY. If you do be drinking a little sup
in one town and another town, it's soon you


41

get great knowledge and a great sight into
the world. You'll see men there, and women
there, sitting up on the ends of barrels in the
dark night, and they making great talk would
soon have the like of you, Sarah Casey, as
wise as a March hare.
MICHAEL -- to Sarah. -- That's the truth
she's saying, and maybe if you've sense in you
at all, you'd have a right still to leave your
fooling, and not be wasting our gold.
SARAH -- decisively. -- If it's wise or fool
I am, I've made a good bargain and I'll stand
to it now.