I want my own life, and I won't be interfered with.

MRS. CRILLY I'm sorry for what occurred, and I'll apologise to the boy's mother if you like.

MUSKERRY I won't be interfered with, I tell you. From this day out I'm free of my own life. And now, Christy Clarke, go down stairs and tell the Master, Mr. Scollard, that I want to see him.

_Christy Clarice goes out_.

MRS. CRILLY I may as well tell you something else. None of the things you ordered were sent up to the cottage.

MUSKERRY Do you tell me that?

MRS. CRILLY I went round to the shop, and everything you ordered was sent to us.

MUSKERRY And what is the meaning of that, ma'am?

MRS. CRILLY If the town knew you were going from us, in a week we would have to put up the shutters.

MUSKERRY Well, I'll walk out of this, and when I come to the road I'll go my own way.

MRS. CRILLY We can't prevent you.

MUSKERRY No, ma'am, you can't prevent me.

MRS. CRILLY You've got your discharge, I suppose?

MUSKERRY I've given three hours' notice, and I'll get my discharge now.

MRS. CRILLY _(at corridor door)_ We can't prevent you going if you have the doctor's discharge.

MUSKERRY The doctor's discharge! He would have given it to me--

MRS. CRILLY You can't leave without the doctor's sanction.

MUSKERRY Out of this house I will go to-day.

_James Scollard enters_.

SCOLLARD I believe you want to see me, Mr. Muskerry.

MUSKERRY I do, Mr. Scollard. I am leaving the house.

SCOLLARD I will be glad to take up the necessary formalities for you, Mr. Muskerry.

MRS. CRILLY First of all, has the doctor marked my father off the infirmary list?

SCOLLARD No, Mrs. Crilly. Now that I recall the list, he has not.

MUSKERRY I waited after Ma.s.s to-day, and I missed seeing him.

MRS. CRILLY My father was seriously ill only a short time ago, and I do not believe he is in a fit state to leave the infirmary.

SCOLLARD That certainly has to be considered. Without the doctor explicitly sending you down to the body of the house you are hardly under my jurisdiction, Mr. Muskerry.

MUSKERRY Mr. Scollard, I ask you to give me leave to go out of the Workhouse for a day. You can do this on your own responsibility.

MRS. CRILLY In the present state of his mind it's not likely he would return to-night. Then if anything happened him your situation is at stake.

MUSKERRY I'm not a pauper. I'll go out of this to-day without leave or license from any of you.

SCOLLARD As you know yourself, Mr. Muskerry, it would be as much as my situation is worth to let you depart in that way.

MUSKERRY Well, go I will.

SCOLLARD I cannot permit it, Mr. Muskerry. I say it with the greatest respect.

MUSKERRY How long will you keep me here?

SCOLLARD Until the doctor visits the house.

MUSKERRY That will be on Monday morning.

SCOLLARD And this is Sat.u.r.day, Mr. Muskerry.

MUSKERRY And where will you put me until Monday?

SCOLLARD Other arrangements will be made for you.

MUSKERRY It's the pauper's bed you would give me!

SCOLLARD The old arrangements will continue. Can I do anything further for you, Mr. Muskerry?

MUSKERRY No, you can do nothing further for me. It's a great deal you have done for me! It's the pauper's bed you have given me!

_(He goes into the Select Ward)_

MRS. CRILLY Sit down, Mr. Scollard. I want to speak to you.

_Mrs. Crilly seats herself at the table. Scollard sits down also._

MRS. CRILLY The bank manager is in the town to-day, and there are people waiting to tell him whether my father goes to our house or goes away from us.

SCOLLARD No doubt there are, Mrs. Crilly.

MRS. CRILLY But you have nothing to do with that, Mr. Scollard.

SCOLLARD No, Mrs. Crilly.

MRS. CRILLY I have my own battle to fight, and a hard battle it is.

I have to make bits of myself to mind everything and be prepared for everything.