(The Boy gazes at him in awe. A soft moaning is set up by the Old Woman, and the Blind Man turns his head towards her.)
Blind Singer (Rising).—There is someone back there. It sounds like an old woman, and she keening. Find out from her what ails her. (The Boy rises to obey.)
Boy.—It is a strange thing how she crept in and we not to hear her or take notice of her! (He goes to her and puts his hand on her shoulder.) Tell us what distress is on you.
Old Woman (As if to herself rather than to the Boy).—Surely it is a poor old woman I am,—and my house burnt over me! I had great strong sons, their hands hard with work and all their doing and their work destroyed before them,—and they dead! My daughters are dropping tears on the black stones where there is no roof against the rain, and they are digging among burnt sticks for what might be still belonging to us—to get a start again! Och-ochone! (She moans and sways.) Women alone—without strength, and men taken, taken from them—
(The Scene grows dusky. A low wind like a distant storm rising, sounds. It fills with cries and laments, but all very dreamlike and distant.)
The Old Woman (Reiterating her plaint).—With strong men taken from them—women alone and without strength—and with only a few bits to start again!
(Sounds continue, darkness gathers deeper over rear. The Old Woman continues moaning and swaying her body.)
Old Woman.—Women alone—without strength—dropping their tears on the black stones!
(The Boy looks at her pityingly, bending down. Suddenly the Old Woman leans over as if in pain herself, clutches her breast and struggles to rise. She puts out her hand to grasp the young boy's arm.)
Old Woman (Speaking painfully).—It is on me, an old woman, too, there is a wound! It was when I had word my sons were dead and gone from me, and my daughters were keening, and fire took our house,—that there was something fell on my breast, and there is a red wound on it now, and a great pain in me! (She opens her shawl and on the blue cotton waist of the plain gown she wears is a great red stain.)
(The Boy supports her. The Blind Singer rises and takes a step towards the group. He seems suddenly to grow tall and powerful.)
(Dark shadows have obscured the back stage. The sounds of