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Dialogue following No. 18a.


Dan.
Whisht now -- what's that?

Bagpipe heard in distance,

Terence.
Is it a pig in pain? (Goes up.)

Molly.
Not at all. It's Blind Murphy with his music.

Kathleen.
It's Blind Murphy has taken service with the Lord Lieutenant.

Dan.
What's that?

Nora.
The truth.

Dan.
Then it's comin' here as a spy he is.

Molly.
Not at all. He thinks he can get cured by the fairies - he said so.

Dan.
A spy would say anything.

Chorus begin singing "Och, the spalpeen!" etc.


Molly.
Stop your foolishness!

Dan.
It's while the stable door's still open I'll not wait here to be taken like a horse in a trap.

Nora.
It's surrounded your trap is - ye can't get out of it by leavin' it.

Dan.
Then it's the Book of Fate that's written dead against us. What do ye say?

Molly.
Say? That if the Book of Fate is written against us, it's the Book of Fate want re-writin', and it's the old Irish character we'll use in doin' it. For Dame Fortune, the old schoolmistress, may put an Irish boy in a corner, but it's his back he'll put to the wall in spite of her. Eh, Terence?

Terence.
Yes; Black Care will never ride a winner in the Irish race, while I'm in it.

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