[Music.—Disappears up rock,L. U. E.
EilyWhat place is this you have brought me to?
DannyNever fear—I know where I’m goin’—step out on that rock—mind yer footin’; ’tis wet there.
EilyI don’t like this place—it’s like a tomb.
DannyStep out, I say; the boat is laking.
[Eilysteps on to rock,R. C.
EilyWhy do you spake to me so rough and cruel?
DannyEily, I have a word to say t’ye; listen now, and don’t trimble that way.
EilyI won’t, Danny—I won’t.
DannyWonst, Eily, I was a fine brave boy, the pride of my ould mother, her white haired-darlin’—you wouldn’t think it to look at me now. D’ye know how I got changed to this?
EilyYes, Hardress told me.
DannyHe done it—but I loved him before it, an’ I loved him after it—not a dhrop of blood I have, but I’d pour out like wather for the masther.
EilyI know what you mean—as he has deformed your body—ruined your life—made ye what ye are.
DannyHave you, a woman, less love for him than I, that you wouldn’t give him what he wants of you, even if he broke your heart as he broke my back, both in a moment of passion? Did I ax him to ruin himself and his ould family, and all to mend my bones? No! I loved him, and I forgave him that.
EilyDanny, what do you want me to do?
[Dannysteps out on to rock.
DannyGive me that paper in your breast?
[Boat floats off slowly,R.
EilyI can’t—I’ve sworn never to part with it! You know I have!
DannyEily, that paper stands between Hardress Cregan and his fortune; that paper is the ruin of him. Give it, I tell yez.
EilyTake me to the priest; let him lift the oath off me. Oh, Danny, I swore a blessed oath on my two knees, and would ye ax me to break that?
Danny[Seizes her hands.] Give it up, and don’t make me hurt ye.
EilyI swore by my mother’s grave, Danny. Oh! Danny dear, don’t. Don’t, acushla, and I’ll do anything. See now, what good would it be? sure, while I live I’m his wife.[Music changes.
DannyThen you’ve lived too long. Take your marriage lines wid ye to the bottom of the lake.
[He throws her from rock backwards into the water,L. C.,with a cry; she reappears, clinging to rock.
EilyNo! save me! Don’t kill me! Don’t, Danny, I’ll do anything—only let me live.
DannyHe wants ye dead.[Pushes her off.
EilyOh, heaven! help me! Danny—Dan—[Sinks.
Danny[Looking down.] I’ve done it—she’s gone.
[Shot is fired,L. U. E.;he falls—rolls from the rock into the water,R. C.
Mylesappears with gun, on rock,L. U. E.
MylesI hit one of them bastes that time. I could see well, though it was so dark. But there was somethin’ moving on that stone. [Swings across toR. U. E.] Divil a sign of him. Stop! [Looks down.] What’s this? It’s a woman—there’s something white there. [Figure rises near rock,R. U. E.;kneels down; tries to take the hand of figure.] Ah! that dress!—it’s Eily. My own darlin’ Eily.
[Pulls off waistcoat—jumps off rock.Eilyrises,R.;thenMylesandEilyrise up,C.;he turns, and seizes rock,R. C.;Eilyacross left arm.