No More Learning

FIRST MERCHANT.

No, brother, not yet.
For none can carry her treasures wholly away
But spirits that are too light for good and evil,
Or, being evil, can remember good.
Begone! [_The spirits vanish. _] I bade them go, for they are lonely,
And when they see aught living love to sigh.
[_Pointing to the oratory. _] Brother, I heard a sound in there--a sound
That troubles me.

SECOND MERCHANT.

[_Going to the door of the oratory and peering through it. _]

Upon the altar steps
The Countess tosses, murmuring in her sleep
A broken _Paternoster_.

[_The FIRST MERCHANT goes to the door and stands beside him. _]

She is grown still.

FIRST MERCHANT.

A great plan floats into my mind--no wonder,
For I come from the ninth and mightiest Hell,
Where all are kings.
I will wake her from her sleep,
And mix with all her thoughts a thought to serve.

[_He calls through the door. _

May we be well remembered in your prayers!

[_The COUNTESS CATHLEEN wakes, and comes to the door of
the oratory. The MERCHANTS descend into the room again.
She stands at the top of the stone steps. _

CATHLEEN.

What would you, sirs?

FIRST MERCHANT.

We are two merchant men,
New come from foreign lands. We bring you news.
Forgive our sudden entry: the great door
Was open, we came in to seek a face.

CATHLEEN.

The door stands always open to receive,
With kindly welcome, starved and sickly folk,
Or any who would fly the woful times.
Merchants, you bring me news?

FIRST MERCHANT.