Read it through once

GILLANE. (sneering). Cathleen Ní Houlihan!—sure you would be jokin'. OLD WOMAN. (with dignity). I am not a joke. I was a young queen once. I had four green fields; I had a little path o' silver an' a river o' gold. They have taken the land off me. Men have fought under my roof and have been put out o' their homes. MICHAEL. (rising slowly). Mother—what is that you are sayin'? MOTHER. (in a frightened voice). Do not be bringin' such talk here. We have enough to do 'tendin' the cattle. OLD WOMAN. (to Michael). Young man, will you not come with me?—I will give you a new sword an' a green coat to wear. MICHAEL. (to Mary). Will you go with me to the fair an' buy a ribbon for my hat?—I am only goin' to see a man about a rope. MARY. (with a strange look). If you go, go to-night. There are men in the town talkin' of a rising. The priests have been speakin'—the French may come. MICHAEL. (suddenly encouraged). I'll be there!—I will take the cross o' my father and carry it in the day. OLD WOMAN. (glorifying). Little men who are like little birds have I seen; they have flown before me to the hills. But the man with a heart like a stone—they pass me by. MARY. (with fire). I will go with you—my hair shall be loose. MOTHER. (alarmed). Mary!—what are you sayin'?—you cannot go barefoot. MARY. (with decision). I will go with him as far as the hedge. (She runs to fetch her shoes.) MICHAEL. (kneeling to Mary). You will not have to go far, sweetheart. (He clasps her.) OLD WOMAN. (to Michael). If you pass by the bridge you will see a man leaning on the gate. He is a priest. He will tell you what to do. MICHAEL. (springing up). I'll be there to-night. I'll be the first. GILLANE. (angrily). You'll not go with that vagabond o' a woman. Who is she but a bit o' the old talk? (He would strike Michael.) OLD WOMAN. (raising her walking-stick). Who comes near her will hear the cry o' the mother in the night. (At that all the doors open and men and women look out; they see the old woman and listen.) MOTHER. (torn). Oh, Michael!—if you go you will never come back. MICHAEL. (passionately). Faith, but I'll be a man if I go!—I will fight for the land that is left. MARY. (throwing her arms about him). Then let me go too!—let me have a garment to put on. MICHAEL. (kissing her). There is a sword in the house. OLD WOMAN. (turning to the house). I'll have a young man for every patch of my cloak before morning. (She rustles, and a cry is heard as of trumpets.) (A drum is heard in the distance.)