MRS. CRILLY Little Joseph is ten months old.

MUSKERRY I dreamt of him last night. I thought Joseph became a bishop.

He ought to be reared for the Church, Marianne. Well, well, I've nothing more to do with that. _(He settles himself in the armchair)_ Did Christy Clarke bring in the papers?

ANNA Christy Clarke hasn't been here at all, grandpapa.

MUSKERRY Stand here till I look at you Nancy. _(Anna comes left of stove)_ I wouldn't be surprised if you were the best-looking girl in the town, Nancy.

ANNA _(without any coquettishness)_ Anna Crilly is riot going into compet.i.tion with the others. _(She wraps the m.u.f.fler round him, then kisses him)_ Good night, grandpapa. _(She goes out by corridor door)_

MRS. CRILLY Thank you for the letter for Albert.

MUSKERRY I think, Marianne, it's the last thing I can do for you or yours.

MRS. CRILLY Well, we can't tell a bad story of you, and things are well with us.

MUSKERRY I'm glad to hear that. I was thinking of going to see you next week.

MRS. CRILLY Come to dinner on Sunday. We are having a lamb.

MUSKERRY What sort is the lamb?

MRS. CRILLY Oh, a very young lamb. Anna will make the dressing for you.

MUSKERRY I'll send round a bottle of wine. Perhaps we'll be in the way of celebrating something for Albert.

MRS. CRILLY Nancy was saying that you might like to stay a few days with us.

MUSKERRY Stay a few days! How could I do that, ma'am?

MRS. CRILLY You could get somebody to look after the House. James Scollard would do it, and you could stay out for a few days.

MUSKERRY Well, indeed, I'll do no such thing. What put it into your head to ask me this?

MRS. CRILLY Nancy said--

MUSKERRY Let the girl speak for herself. What's in your mind, woman?

MRS. CRILLY Well, you're not looking well.

MUSKERRY I'm as well as ever I was.

MRS. CRILLY Others do not think so.

MUSKERRY I suppose you heard I was late a few mornings. No matter for that. I'm as well as ever I was. No more talk about it; I'm going on with the work. _(He rises and goes over to desk)_

MRS. CRILLY I'm sorry to say that no one else thinks as well of you as you do yourself.

MUSKERRY Well, I'll hear no more about it, and that's enough about it.

Why isn't Albert Crilly here?

MRS. CRILLY Well, he was here, and he is coming back.

MUSKERRY I'll want him. _(He takes up a card left on the desk. He turns round and reads)_--"You have let the Guardians pay for a hundred tons. James Covey delivered only fifty tons of coal." Who left this here?

MRS. CRILLY I suppose Albert left it for you.

MUSKERRY The impudent rascal. How dare he address himself like that to me? _(He throws card on table)_

MRS. CRILLY Perhaps he found something out in the books.

MUSKERRY No matter whether he did or not, he'll have to have respect when he addresses me. Anyway it's a lie--a d.a.m.n infernal lie. I was in the stores the other day, and there was eighty tons of coal still there. Certainly twenty tons had been taken out of it. The Provision Check Account will show. _(He takes up a book and turns round. He goes back some pages. He lets the book fall. He stands there helpless)_ I suppose you all are right in your judgment of me. I'm at my failing time. I'll have to leave this without pension or prospect.

They'll send me away.

MRS. CRILLY They had nothing against you before this.

MUSKERRY I was spoken of as the pattern for the officials of Ireland.

MRS. CRILLY If you resigned now--

MUSKERRY Before this comes out. _(He looks for help)_ Marianne, it would be like the blow to the struck ox if I lost my pension.

MRS. CRILLY If you managed to get the pension you could pay the Guardians back in a lump sum.

MUSKERRY If I resigned now, where would I go to?

MRS. CRILLY It was always understood that you would stay with us.

MUSKERRY No, Marianne.

MRS. CRILLY You'll have the place to yourself. The boys will be going to school, and Albert will be away, too. Anna and myself will look after you.

MUSKERRY I could stay for a while.

MRS. CRILLY Oh, well, if you have a better place to go--

MUSKERRY Remember what I said, Marianne. I've worked for you and yours, in season and out of season. There should be no more claims on me.

MRS. CRILLY There are no more claims on you.

MUSKERRY I'm willing to leave in the shop what I put into the shop.

Let Anna know that it will come to her from me. I'll write to the Guardians to-night and I'll send in my resignation. I venture to think that they'll know their loss.

_Mrs. Crilly goes out quietly by corridor door_.

MUSKERRY _(by himself)_ And I had made this place as fit for me as the nest for the wren. Wasn't he glad to write that card, the impudent rascal, with his tongue in his cheek? I'll consider it again.

I won't leave this place till it fits myself to leave it.