a short while the way I'll not be able to make
a tin can at all maybe at the dawn of day.
SARAH -- sitting down beside him and
throwing sticks on the fire. -- If it's the divil's


14

job, let you mind it, and leave your speeches
that would choke a fool.
MICHAEL -- slowly and glumly. -- And
it's you'll go talking of fools, Sarah Casey,
when no man did ever hear a lying story even
of your like unto this mortal day. You to
be going beside me a great while, and rearing
a lot of them, and then to be setting off with
your talk of getting married, and your driv-
ing me to it, and I not asking it at all.
[Sarah turns her back to him and ar-
ranges something in the ditch.
MICHAEL -- angrily. -- Can't you speak
a word when I'm asking what is it ails you
since the moon did change?
SARAH -- musingly. -- I'm thinking there
isn't anything ails me, Michael Byrne; but
the spring-time is a queer time, and its* queer
thoughts maybe I do think at whiles.
MICHAEL. It's hard set you'd be to think
queerer than welcome, Sarah Casey; but what
will you gain dragging me to the priest this