Mrs. Ford: You'll have the anxiety of the farm on your mind from this
out, Donagh.
Donagh: Well, it is not the hut, with the hunger of the bog about it,
that I will be bringing Agnes into now.
Mrs. Ford: Agnes, come here, love, until I look upon the sweetness of
your face. (_Agnes goes to her, kneeling by her side._) You'll be in
this place with Donagh. It is a great inheritance you will have in the
name of Donagh Ford. It is no idle name that will be in this house but
the name of one who knew a great strength. It will be a long line of
generations that the name of the Fords will reach out to, generations
reaching to the time that Ireland herself will rise by the power of her
own will.
Agnes (_rising_): You will only sadden yourself by these thoughts. Think
of what there is in store for you.
Mrs. Ford: I'm an old woman now, child. There can be no fresh life
before me. But I can tell you that I was young and full of courage once.
I was the woman who stood by the side of Donagh Ford, that gave him
support in the day of trial, that was always the strong branch in the
storm and in the calm. Am I saying any word only what is a true word,
Donagh?
Donagh: The truth of that is well known to the people. (_He goes to
door._)
Mrs. Ford: Very well. Gather up all the people now, son. Let them come
in about this place for many of them have a memory of it. Let me hear
the welcome of their voices. They will have good words to say, speaking
on the greatness of Donagh Ford who is dead.
Donagh: They are coming out from the fields with Hugh, mother. I see the
young fellows falling into line. They are wearing their caps and sashes
and they have the band. I can see them carrying the banner to the front
of the crowd. Here they are marching up the road. (_The strains of a
fife and drum band playing a spirited march are heard in the distance.
Mrs. Ford rises slowly, "humouring" the march with her stick, her face
expressing her delight. The band stops._)
Mrs. Ford: That's the spirit of Carrabane. Let the people now look upon
me in this place and let them take pride in my son.
Donagh: I see Stephen Mac Donagh.
Mrs. Ford: Let him be the first across the threshold, for he went to
jail with Donagh Ford. Have beside him Murt Cooney that lost his sight
at the struggle of Ballyadams. Let him lift up his poor blind face till
I see the rapture of it.
Donagh: Murt Cooney is coming, and Francis Kilroy and Brian Mulkearn.
Mrs. Ford: It was they who put a seal of silence on their lips and bore
their punishment to save a friend of the people. Have a place beside me
for the widow of Con Rafferty who hid the smoking revolver the day the
tyrant fell at the cross of Killbrack.
Donagh: All the old neighbours are coming surely.
Mrs. Ford (_crossing slowly to door, Agnes going before her_): Let me
look into their eyes for the things I will see stirring there. I will
reach them out the friendship of my hands and speak to them the words
that lie upon my heart. The rafters of this house will ring again with
the voices that Donagh Ford welcomed and that I loved. Aye, the very
fire on the hearth will leap in memory of the hands that tended it.
Donagh: This will be such a day as will be made a boast of for ever in
Carrabane. (_Agnes goes out door to meet the people._)
Mrs. Ford: Let there be music and the sound of rejoicing and shouts from
the hills. Let those who put their feet in anger upon us and who are
themselves reduced to-day look back upon the strength they held and the
power they lost.