Ellen Duncan; And The Proctor's Daughter The Works of William Carleton, Volume Two

In a remote cottage on the edge of County Clare, Ellen Duncan sits alone, mourning a loss that no words can ease. The land around her is scarred by turmoil, and the couple’s simple home—just a thatched, single‑room cabin—holds only a cow, a few pigs, and the hard‑won love that binds them. Their devotion to each other and to the old faith offers a fragile shelter against the growing lawlessness that threatens the countryside.

Owen Duncan, Ellen’s husband, faces a crushing rent bill that far exceeds the meager earnings of his labor. With their modest savings dwindling, he must decide whether to sell their beloved cow, the only source of milk and butter, or risk losing the farm entirely. As the couple wrestles with pride, duty, and the fear of impending hardship, their quiet resilience becomes a poignant portrait of rural life on the brink of change.