{ Outside . } Good evening to you , lady of the house . { Coming in slowly and going towards the bed . } Is it departed he is ? { Looking closely at the dead man . } It 's a queer look is on him for a man that 's dead . { Looking at her and nodding slowly . } It 's a queer story he would n't let his own wife touch him , and he dying quiet in his bed . { Crosses himself . } God rest his soul . { Filling a pipe and looking about the room . } I 've walked a great way through the world , lady of the house , and seen great wonders , but I never seen a wake till this day with fine spirits , and good tobacco , and the best of pipes , and no one to taste them but a woman only . { Drinking . } There 's no offence , lady of the house ? { Sitting down . } I knew rightly . { He lights his pipe so that there is a sharp light beneath his haggard face . } And I was thinking , and I coming in through the door , that it 's many a lone woman would be afeard of the like of me in the dark night , in a place would n't be so lonesome as this place , where there are n't two living souls would see the little light you have shining from the glass . { Looking round with a half-shudder . } It is surely , God help us all ! { Speaking mournfully . } Is it myself , lady of the house , that does be walking round in the long nights , and crossing the hills when the fog is on them , the time a little stick would seem as big as your arm , and a rabbit as big as a bay horse , and a stack of turf as big as a towering church in the city of Dublin ? If myself was easily afeard , I 'm telling you , it 's long ago I'ld have been locked into the Richmond Asylum , or maybe have run up into the back hills with nothing on me but an old shirt , and been eaten with crows the like of Patch Darcy — the Lord have mercy on him — in the year that 's gone . { Looking at the body in the sheet . } It 's myself will go for him , lady of the house , and let you not be destroying yourself with the great rain . { Moving uneasily . } Maybe if you 'd a piece of a grey thread and a sharp needle — there 's great safety in a needle , lady of the house — I'ld be putting a little stitch here and there in my old coat , the time I 'll be praying for his soul , and it going up naked to the saints of God . { Slowly . } It 's true , surely , and the Lord have mercy on us all ! { Nora goes out . The Tramp begins stitching one of the tags in his coat , saying the “ De Profundis ” under his breath . In an instant the sheet is drawn slowly down , and Dan Burke looks out . The Tramp moves uneasily , then looks up , and springs to his feet with a movement of terror . } { Trembling . } I meant no harm , your honour ; and wo n't you leave me easy to be saying a little prayer for your soul ? { A long whistle is heard outside . } { Doubtfully . } Is it not dead you are ? { Pouring out the whisky . } What will herself say if she smells the stuff on you , for I 'm thinking it 's not for nothing you 're letting on to be dead ? { Taking a stick from the cupboard } Is it that ? { With a queer look . } Is it herself , master of the house , and she a grand woman to talk ? { Listening . } There 's a voice speaking on the path . { Covering his head . } Have no fear , master of the house . What is it I know of the like of you that I'ld be saying a word or putting out my hand to stay you at all ? { He goes back to the fire , sits down on a stool with his back to the bed and goes on stitching his coat . } { Quickly . } Whisht , whisht . Be quiet I 'm telling you , they 're coming now at the door . { Nora comes in with Micheal Dara , a tall , innocent young man behind her . } { Plaintively . } That was a great man , young fellow , a great man I 'm telling you . There was never a lamb from his own ewes he would n't know before it was marked , and he'ld run from this to the city of Dublin and never catch for his breath . { Standing up . } It 's a hard thing you 're saying for an old man , master of the house , and what would the like of her do if you put her out on the roads ? { Pointing to Micheal . } Maybe himself would take her . { Going over to Nora . } We 'll be going now , lady of the house — the rain is falling , but the air is kind and maybe it 'll be a grand morning by the grace of God . { At the door . } Come along with me now , lady of the house , and it 's not my blather you 'll be hearing only , but you 'll be hearing the herons crying out over the black lakes , and you 'll be hearing the grouse and the owls with them , and the larks and the big thrushes when the days are warm , and it 's not from the like of them you 'll be hearing a talk of getting old like Peggy Cavanagh , and losing the hair off you , and the light of your eyes , but it 's fine songs you 'll be hearing when the sun goes up , and there 'll be no old fellow wheezing , the like of a sick sheep , close to your ear .