The Colleen Bawn

ACT II

SCENE I. – [1st Grooves.] —Gap of Dunloe; same as 2d Scene, Act I. – Music

Enter Hardress and Danny, L. 1 E

Hard [R.] Oh, what a giddy fool I’ve been! What would I give to recall this fatal act which bars my fortune?

Danny [L.] There’s something throublin’ yez, Masther Hardress. Can’t Danny do something to aise ye? Spake the word, and I’ll die for ye.

Hard Danny, I am troubled. I was a fool when I refused to listen to you at the chapel of Castle Island.

Danny When I warned ye to have no call to Eily O’Connor?

Hard I was mad to marry her.

Danny I knew she was no wife for you. A poor thing widout any manners, or money, or book larnin’, or a ha’porth o’ fortin’. Oh, worra! I told ye that, but ye bate me off, and here now is the way of it.

Hard Well, it’s done, and can’t be undone.

Danny Bedad, I dun know that. Wouldn’t she untie the knot herself – couldn’t ye coax her?

Hard No.

Danny Is that her love for you? You that give up the divil an’ all for her. What’s her ruin to yours? Ruin – goredoutha – ruin is it? Don’t I pluck a shamrock and wear it a day for the glory of St. Patrick, and then throw it away when it’s gone by my likin’s. What is she to be ruined by a gentleman? Whoo! Mighty good for the likes o’ her.

Hard She would have yielded, but —

Danny Asy now, an’ I’ll tell ye. Pay her passage out to Quaybeck and put her aboord a three-master, widout sayin’ a word. Lave it to me. Danny will clear the road foreninst ye.

Hard Fool, if she still possesses that certificate – the proof of my first marriage – how can I dare to wed another? Commit bigamy – disgrace my wife – bastardize my children?

Danny Den by the powers, I’d do by Eily as wid the glove there on yer hand; make it come off as it came on – an’ if it fits too tight, take the knife to it.

Hard [Turning to him.] What do you mean?

Danny Only gi’ me the word, an’ I’ll engage that the Colleen Bawn will never trouble ye any more; don’t ax me any questions at all. Only – if you’re agreeable, take off that glove from yer hand an’ give it to me for a token – that’s enough.

Hard [Throws off cloak; seizes him; throws him down.] Villain! Dare you utter a word or meditate a thought of violence towards that girl —

Danny Oh, murder! may I never die in sin, if —

Hard Begone! away, at once, and quit my sight. I have chosen my doom! I must learn to endure it – but blood! – and hers! Shall I make cold and still that heart that beats alone for me? – quench those eyes that look so tenderly in mine? Monster! am I so vile that you dare to whisper such a thought?

Danny Oh, masther! divil burn me if I meant any harm.

Hard Mark me well, now. Respect my wife as you would the queen of the land – whisper a word such as those you uttered to me, and it will be your last. I warn ye – remember and obey.

[Exit Hardress, R

Danny [Rises – picks up cloak.] Oh, the darlin’ crature! would I harrum a hair of her blessed head? – no! Not unless you gave me that glove, and den I’d jump into the bottomless pit for ye.

[Exit Danny, R. Music – change

SCENE II. —Room in Mrs. Cregan’s house; window, R., in flat, backed by landscape; door, L., in flat; backed by interior. Lights up

Enter Anne Chute, L. in flat

Anne That fellow runs in my head. [Looking at window.] There he is in the garden, smoking like a chimney-pot. [Calls.] Mr. Daly!

Kyrle [Outside window.] Good morning!

Anne [Aside.] To think he’d smile that way, after going Leandering all night like a dissipated young owl. [Aloud.] Did you sleep well? [Aside.] Not a wink, you villain, and you know it.

Kyrle I slept like a top.

Anne [Aside.] I’d like to have the whipping of ye. [Aloud.] When did you get back?

Kyrle Get back! I’ve not been out.

Anne [Aside.] He’s not been out! This is what men come to after a cruise at sea – they get sunburnt with love. Those foreign donnas teach them to make fire-places of their hearts, and chimney-pots of their mouths. [Aloud.] What are you doing down there? [Aside.] As if he was stretched out to dry. [Kyrle puts down pipe outside.

Enter Kyrle through window, R., in flat

Kyrle [R. C.] I have been watching Hardress coming over from Divil’s Island in his boat – the wind was dead against him.

Anne [L. C.] It was fair for going to Divil’s Island last night, I believe.

Kyrle Was it?

Anne You were up late, I think?

Kyrle I was. I watched by my window for hours, thinking of her I loved – slumber overtook me, and I dreamed of a happiness I never can hope for.

Anne Look me straight in the face.

Kyrle Oh! if some fairy could strike us into stone now – and leave us looking forever into each other’s faces, like the blue lake below and the sky above it!

Anne Kyrle Daly! What would you say to a man who had two loves, one to whom he escaped at night, and the other to whom he devoted himself during the day – what would you say?

Kyrle I’d say he had no chance.

Anne Oh, Captain Cautious! Well answered. Isn’t he fit to take care of anybody! his cradle was cut out of a witness-box.

Enter Hardress through window, R., in flat

Kyrle [R.] Anne! I don’t know what you mean, but that I know that I love you, and you are sporting with a wretchedness you can not console. I was wrong to remain here so long, but I thought my friendship for Hardress would protect me against your invasion – now I will go. [Hardress advancing.

Hard [C.] No, Kyrle, you will stay. Anne, he loves you, and I more than suspect you prefer him to me. From this moment you are free; I release you from all troth to me: in his presence I do this.

Anne [L.] Hardress!

Hard There is a bar between us which you should have known before, but I could not bring myself to confess. Forgive me, Anne – you deserve a better man than I am. [Exit, L.

Anne A bar between us! What does he mean?

Kyrle He means that he is on the verge of ruin: he did not know how bad things were till last night. His generous noble heart recoils from receiving anything from you but love.

Anne And does he think I’d let him be ruined any way? Does he think I wouldn’t sell the last rood of land – the gown off my back, and the hair off my head, before that boy that protected and loved me, the child, years ago, should come to a hap’orth of harrum?

[Crosses to R

Kyrle Miss Chute!

Anne Well, I can’t help it. When I am angry the brogue comes out, and my Irish heart will burst through manners, and graces, and twenty stay-laces. [Crosses to L.] I’ll give up my fortune – that I will!

Kyrle You can’t – you’ve got a guardian who can not consent to such a sacrifice.

Anne Have I? then I’ll find a husband that will.

Kyrle [Aside.] She means me – I see it in her eyes.

Anne [Aside.] He’s trying to look unconscious. [Aloud.] Kyrle Daly, on your honor and word as a gentleman, do you love me and nobody else?

Kyrle Do you think me capable of contaminating your image by admitting a meaner passion into my breast?

Anne Yes, I do.

Kyrle Then you wrong me.

Anne I’ll prove that in one word. Take care, now; it’s coming.

Kyrle Go on.

Anne [Aside.] Now I’ll astonish him. [Aloud.] Eily!

Kyrle What’s that?

Anne “Shule, shule, agrah!”

Kyrle Where to?

Anne Three winks, as much as to say, “Are you coming?” and an extinguisher above here means “Yes.” Now you see I know all about it.

Kyrle You have the advantage of me.

Anne Confess now, and I’ll forgive you.

Kyrle I will; tell me what to confess, and I’ll confess it – I don’t care what it is.

Anne [Aside.] If I hadn’t eye proof he’d brazen it out of me. Isn’t he cunning? He’s one of those that would get fat where a fox would starve.

Kyrle That was a little excursion into my past life – a sudden descent on my antecedents, to see if you could not surprise an infidelity – but I defy you.

Anne You do? I accept that defiance; and, mind me, Kyrle, if I find you true as I once thought, there’s my hand; but if you are false in this, Anne Chute will never change her name for yours. [He kisses her hand.] Leave me now.

Kyrle Oh, the lightness you have given to my heart! The number of pipes I’ll smoke this afternoon will make them think we’ve got a haystack on fire. [Exit Kyrle, through window, R.

Anne [Rings bell on table, R.] Here, Pat, Barney, some one.

Enter Servant, L. door in flat

Tell Larry Dolan, my groom, to saddle the black mare, Fireball, but not bring her round the house – I’ll mount in the stables.

[Exit Servant, L. door in flat

I’ll ride over to Muckross Head, and draw that cottage; I’ll know what’s there. It mayn’t be right, but I haven’t a big brother to see after me – and self-protection is the first law of nature.

[Exit Anne, R. 1 E

Music. Enter Mrs. Cregan and Hardress, L. door in flat

Mrs. C [R. C.] What do you say, Hardress?

Hard [L. C.] I say, mother, that my heart and faith are both already pledged to another, and I can not break my engagement.

Mrs. C And this is the end of all our pride!

Hard Repining is useless – thought and contrivance are of no avail – the die is cast.

Mrs. C Hardress, I speak not for myself, but for you – and I would rather see you in your coffin than married to this poor, lowborn, silly, vulgar creature. I know you, my son; you will be miserable when the infatuation of first love is past; when you turn from her and face the world, as one day you must do, you will blush to say, “This is my wife.” Every word from her mouth will be a pang to your pride. You will follow her movements with terror – the contempt and derision she excites will rouse you first to remorse, and then to hatred – and from the bed to which you go with a blessing, you will rise with a curse.

Hard Mother! mother! [Throws himself in chair.

Mrs. C To Anne you have acted a heartless and dishonorable part – her name is already coupled with yours at every fireside in Kerry.

Enter Servant, L. door in flat

Serv Mr. Corrigan, ma’am.

Mrs. C He comes for his answer. Show him in.

[Exit Servant, L. door in flat

The hour has come, Hardress – what answer shall I give him?

Hard Refuse him – let him do his worst.

Mrs. C And face beggary! On what shall we live? I tell you the prison for debt is open before us. Can you work? No! Will you enlist as a soldier, and send your wife into service? We are ruined – d’ye hear? – ruined! I must accept this man only to give you and yours a shelter, and under Corrigan’s roof I may not be ashamed, perhaps, to receive your wife.

Enter Servant, showing in Mr. Corrigan, L. door in flat

Corrig [L.] Good morning, ma’am; I am punctual, you perceive.

Mrs. C [C.] We have considered your offer, sir, and we see no alternative – but – but —

Corrig Mrs. Cregan, I’m proud, ma’am, to take your hand.

Hard [Starting up.] Begone – begone, I say; touch her, and I’ll brain you!

Corrig Squire! Sir! Mr. Hardress!

Hard Must I hurl you from the house?

Enter two Servants, door in flat

Mrs. C Hardress, my darling boy, restrain yourself.

Corrig Good morning, ma’am. I have my answer. [To Servant.] Is Miss Chute within?

Serv No, sir; she’s just galloped out of the stable yard.

Corrig Say I called to see her. I will wait upon her at this hour to-morrow. [Looking at the Cregans.] To-morrow! to-morrow!

[Exit, followed by Servants, L. door in flat

Mrs. C To-morrow will see us in Limerick Jail, and this house in the hands of the sheriff.

Hard Mother, heaven guide and defend me! let me rest for a while – you don’t know all yet, and I have not the heart to tell you.

[Crosses L

Mrs. C With you, Hardress, I can bear anything – anything – but your humiliation and your unhappiness —

Hard I know it, mother, I know it. [Exit, L. 1 E. Music.

Danny appears at window, R., in flat

Danny Whisht – missiz – whisht.

Mrs. C [L. C.] Who’s there?

Danny It’s me, sure, Danny – that is – I know the throuble that’s in it. I’ve been through it all wid him.

Mrs. C You know, then?

Danny Everything, ma’am; and, sure, I shtruv hard and long to impache him from doing it.

Mrs. C Is he, indeed, so involved with this girl that he will not give her up?

Danny No; he’s got over the worst of it, but she holds him tight, and he feels kindly and soft-hearted for her, and daren’t do what another would.

Mrs. C Dare not?

Danny Sure she might be packed off across the wather to Ameriky, or them parts beyant? Who’d ever ax a word afther her? – barrin’ the masther, who’d murdher me if he knew I whispered such a thing.

Mrs. C But would she go?

Danny Ow, ma’am, wid a taste of persuasion, we’d mulvather her aboord. But there’s another way again, and if ye’d only coax the masther to send me his glove, he’d know the manin’ of that token, and so would I.

Mrs. C His glove?

Danny Sorra a ha’porth else. If he’ll do that, I’ll take my oath ye’ll hear no more of the Colleen Bawn.

Mrs. C I’ll see my son. [Exit L. D. F.

Danny Tare an’ ’ouns, that lively girl, Miss Chute, has gone the road to Muckross Head; I’ve watched her – I’ve got my eye on all of them. If she sees Eily – ow, ow, she’ll get the ring itself in that helpin’ maybe, of kale-canon. By the piper, I’ll run across the lake, and get there first; she’s got a long round to go, and the wind rising – a purty blast entirely.

[Goes to window – Music

Re-enter Mrs. Cregan, L. D. F., with glove

Mrs. C [Aside.] I found his gloves in the hall, where he had thrown them in his hat.

Danny Did ye ax him, ma’am?

Mrs. C I did – and here is the reply. [Holds out glove.

Danny He has changed his mind, then?

Mrs. C He has entirely.

Danny And – and – I am – to – do it?

Mrs. C That is the token.

Danny I know it – I’ll keep my promise. I’m to make away with her?

Mrs. C Yes, yes – take her away – away with her!

[Exit Mrs. Cregan, L. door in flat

Danny Never fear, ma’am. [Going to window.] He shall never see or hear again of the Colleen Bawn.

[Exit Danny through window – change

SCENE III. —Exterior of Eily’s Cottage; Cottage, R. 3 E.; set pieces, backed by Lake; table and two seats, R. C

Sheelah and Eily discovered, knitting

Sheelah [R.] Don’t cry, darlin’ – don’t, alanna!

Eily [L.] He’ll never come back to me – I’ll never see him again, Sheelah!

Sheelah Is it lave his own wife?

Eily I’ve sent him a letther by Myles, and Myles has never come back – I’ve got no answer – he won’t spake to me – I am standin’ betune him and fortune – I’m in the way of his happiness. I wish I was dead!

Sheelah Whisht! be thee husht! what talk is that? when I’m tuk sad that way, I go down to the chapel and pray a turn – it lifts the cloud off my heart.

Eily I can’t pray; I’ve tried, but unless I pray for him, I can’t bring my mind to it.

Sheelah I never saw a colleen that loved as you love; sorra come to me, but I b’lieve you’ve got enough to supply all Munster, and more left over than would choke ye if you wern’t azed of it.

Eily He’ll come back – I’m sure he will; I was wicked to doubt. Oh! Sheelah! what becomes of the girls he doesn’t love? Is there anything goin’ on in the world where he isn’t?

Sheelah There now – you’re smilin’ again.

Eily I’m like the first mornin’ when he met me – there was dew on the young day’s eye – a smile on the lips o’ the lake. Hardress will come back – oh! yes; he’ll never leave his poor Eily all alone by herself in this place. Whisht, now, an’ I’ll tell you. [Music.

Song. – Air, “Pretty Girl Milking her Cow.”

 
’Twas on a bright morning in summer,
I first heard his voice speaking low,
As he said to a colleen beside me,
“Who’s that pretty girl milking her cow?”
And many times after he met me,
And vowed that I always should be
His own little darling alanna,
Mavourneen a sweelish machree.
 
 
I haven’t the manners or graces
Of the girls in the world where ye move,
I haven’t their beautiful faces,
But I have a heart that can love.
If it plase ye, I’ll dress in satins,
And jewels I’ll put on my brow,
But don’t ye be after forgettin’
Your pretty girl milking her cow.
 

Sheelah Ah, the birds sit still on the boughs to listen to her, and the trees stop whisperin’; she leaves a mighty big silence behind her voice, that nothin’ in nature wants to break. My blessin’ on the path before her – there’s an angel at the other end of it.

[Exit Sheelah in cottage, R

Eily [Repeats last line of song.]

Enter Anne Chute, L. U. E

Anne There she is.

Eily [Sings till facing Anne – stops – they examine each other.]

Anne My name is Anne Chute.

Eily I am Eily O’Connor.

Anne You are the Colleen Bawn – the pretty girl.

Eily And you are the Colleen Ruaidh.

Anne [Aside.] She is beautiful.

Eily [Aside.] How lovely she is.

Anne We are rivals.

Eily I am sorry for it.

Anne So am I, for I feel that I could have loved you.

Eily That’s always the way of it; everybody wants to love me, but there’s something spoils them off.

Anne [Showing letter.] Do you know that writing?

Eily I do, ma’am, well, though I don’t know how you came by it.

Anne I saw your signals last night – I saw his departure, and I have come here to convince myself of his falsehood to me. But now that I have seen you, you have no longer a rival in his love, for I despise him with all my heart, who could bring one so beautiful and simple as you are to ruin and shame!

Eily He didn’t – no – I am his wife! Oh, what have I said!

Anne What?

Eily Oh, I didn’t mane to confess it – no, I didn’t! but you wrung it from me in defense of him.

Anne You his wife?

Enter Danny, L. U. E

Danny [At back – aside.] The divil! they’re at it – an’ I’m too late!

Anne I can not believe this – show me your certificate.

Eily Here it is.

Danny [Advances between them.] Didn’t you swear to the priest that it should niver lave your breast?

Anne Oh! you’re the boatman.

Danny Iss, ma’am!

Anne Eily, forgive me for doubting your goodness, and your purity. I believe you. Let me take your hand. [Crosses to her.] While the heart of Anne Chute beats, you have a friend that won’t be spoiled off, but you have no longer a rival, mind that. All I ask of you is that you will never mention this visit to Mr. Daly – and for you [To Danny.] this will purchase your silence. [Gives money.] Good-by!

[Exit Anne, L. U. E

Danny Long life t’ye. [Aside.] What does it mane? Hasn’t she found me out?

Eily Why did she ask me never to spake to Mr. Daly of her visit here? Sure I don’t know any Mr. Daly.

Danny Didn’t she spake of him before, dear?

Eily Never!

Danny Nor didn’t she name Master Hardress?

Eily Well, I don’t know; she spoke of him and of the letter I wrote to him, but I b’lieve she never named him intirely.

Danny [Aside.] The divil’s in it for sport; she’s got ’em mixed yet.

Enter Sheelah from cottage, R

Sheelah What brings you back, Danny?

Danny Nothing! but a word I have from the masther for the Colleen here.

Eily Is it the answer to the letter I sent by Myles?

Danny That’s it, jewel, he sent me wid a message.

Sheelah [C.] Somethin’ bad has happened. Danny, you are as pale as milk, and your eye is full of blood – yez been drinkin’.

Danny May be I have.

Sheelah You thrimble, and can’t spake straight to me. Oh! Danny, what is it, avick?

Danny Go on now, an’ stop yer keenin’.

Eily Faith, it isn’t yourself that’s in it, Danny; sure there’s nothing happened to Hardress?

Danny Divil a word, good or bad, I’ll say while the mother’s there.

Sheelah I’m goin’. [Aside.] What’s come to Danny this day, at all, at all; bedad, I don’t know my own flesh and blood.

[Runs into cottage

Danny Sorro’ and ruin has come on the Cregans; they’re broke intirely.

Eily Oh, Danny.

Danny Whisht, now! You are to meet Masther Hardress this evenin’, at a place on the Divil’s Island, beyant. Ye’ll niver breathe a word to a mortal where yer goin’, d’ye mind, now; but slip down, unbeknown, to the landin’ below, where I’ll have the boat waitin’ for yez.

Eily At what hour?

Danny Just after dark; there’s no moon to-night, an’ no one will see us crossin’ the water. [Music till end of scene.

Eily I will be there; I’ll go down only to the little chapel by the shore, and pray there ’till ye come. [Exit Eily, into cottage, R.