CRILLY
Are you going to finish the abstracts to-night, Albert?
ALBERT
I believe I am. Go on with "The Devil's Rambles," Tournour.
CRILLY
I heard it in Keegan's. It's damn good.
TOURNOUR
I don't like saying it before Mister Crilly.
CRILLY (with easy contempt) Go on with it, man; I'll leave a pint in Keegan's for you.
TOURNOUR
Well, you mightn't like it.
CRILLY
Have done talking and go on with it.
TOURNOUR (reciting)—
"In his chamber above—a—a person lay snug,
When the Devil this summons roared in his lug—
'Get up,' said the Devil, 'and swear you'll be true,
And the oath of allegiance I'll tender anew.
You'll have pork, veal, and lamb, mutton-chops, fowl and fish,
Cabbage and carrots and leeks as you wish.
No fast days to you will make visitation,
For your sake the town will have dispensation.
Long days you will have, without envy or strife,
And when you depart you'll find the same life,
And in the next world you'll have your will and your sway,
With a Poorhouse to govern all your own way,
And I'll promise you this; to keep up your state,
You'll have Felix Tournour to watch at the gate.'"
CRILLY That's damn good. I must get a copy of the whole of it to show at Keegan's.
Tournour has swept as far as the corridor door. He opens it and sweeps down the passage. He goes out and closes door.
CRILLY That's a damn clever fellow. (He becomes anxious, as with a troubled recollection. He goes to the little cabinet, opens it, and takes out a bottle of whisky and a glass. He pours some whisky into the glass, and remains looking at himself in the mirror. He smooths his beard. He goes to the arm chair with the glass of whisky, the anxious expression still on his face) This is a cursed town. (He drinks)
ALBERT
Every town in Ireland is a cursed town.
CRILLY But this is an extraordinarily cursed town. Everybody's in debt to everybody else. I don't know what's to be done. Now, imagine that fellow, James Covey, failing in business and getting clear out of the town.
ALBERT
Covey seems to have done it well.
CRILLY
God knows how many he has stuck.
ALBERT
Well, he didn't stick the Crillys for anything.
CRILLY
Albert, you don't know how these financial things work out.
Do you think would his brother settle?
ALBERT
Settle with whom?
CRILLY
Well … with any of the … any of the people that have …
I don't know. It's a cursed town. If I had joined the police at your
age, I'd have a pension by this, and I mightn't care for any of them.
ALBERT
I wish I had a job and I'd wait on the pension.
CRILLY Oh, you'll be all right. The grandfather is seeing about your job.
ALBERT If the grandparent gets me that job I'll want two new suits at least.
CRILLY 'Pon my soul, Albert, I don't know what's to be done. ( His mind wanders off) I suppose the abstracts have to go out in the morning.
ALBERT
They have. And damn all the old man has done to them.
CRILLY The Guardians hear that he's late in the mornings, Albert, and some of them are beginning to question his fitness to check the stores.
ALBERT
The old man ought to resign.
CRILLY
I suppose he ought. I'm not wishing for his resignation myself,
Albert. You know your mother regards it as a settled thing that he
should come and live with us.
ALBERT
The mother and Anna are preparing for the event.
CRILLY
How's that, Albert?
ALBERT
Mother has James Scollard in her eye for the new Master.
CRILLY Right enough! Scollard would get it, too, and then he would marry Anna.
ALBERT
That's the arrangement, I expect.
CRILLY It mightn't be bad. Scollard mightn't want Nancy's money under that arrangement. Still I don't like the idea of the old man living in the house.
ALBERT The mother would never think of letting him take himself and his pension anywhere else.
CRILLY
I don't think she would.
ALBERT I wouldn't be surprised if he did go somewhere else. I hear he often goes up to that cottage in Stradrina.
CRILLY
What cottage, Albert?
ALBERT Briar Cottage. I hear he sits down there, and talks of coming to live in the place.
CRILLY (warningly) Albert, don't clap hands behind the bird. Take my word, and say nothing about it.
ALBERT
All right.
CRILLY We'd have no comfort in the house if your mother's mind was distracted.
Mrs. Crilly enters from corridor. She is a woman of forty, dressed
in a tailor-made costume. She has searching eyes. There is something
of hysteria about her mouth. She has been good-looking.
CRILLY
Good night, Marianne.
MRS. CRILLY Are you finishing the abstracts, Albert?
ALBERT I'm working at them. It's a good job we didn't leave the old man much latitude for making mistakes.
MRS. CRILLY (closing door) He'll have to resign.
CRILLY
Good God, Marianne. (He rises)
MRS. CRILLY Well. Let him be sent away without a pension. Of course, he can live with us the rest of his life and give us nothing for keeping him.
CRILLY I don't know what's in your mind at all, Marianne. (He crosses over to the cabinet, opens it, and fills out another glass of whisky)
ALBERT
Let the old man do what suits himself.
CRILLY (coming back to stove) Do, Marianne. Let him do what suits himself. For the present.
MRS. CRILLY For pity's sake put down that glass and listen to what I have to say.
CRILLY
What's the matter, Marianne?
MRS. CRILLY James Scollard came to me to-day, and he told me about the things that are noticed…. The nuns notice them, the Guardians notice them. He misses Mass. He is late on his rounds. He can't check the stores that are coming into the house. He may get himself into such trouble that he'll be dismissed with only an apology for a pension, or with no pension at all.
CRILLY
I don't know what's to be done.
MRS. CRILLY If he could be got to resign now James Scollard would have a good chance of becoming Workhouse Master. He would marry Anna, and we would still have some hand in the affairs of the House.
CRILLY
Yes, yes. I think that Scollard could make a place for himself.
ALBERT
The old man won't be anxious to retire.
MRS. CRILLY
Why shouldn't he retire when his time is up?
ALBERT Well, here he is what's called a potentate. He won't care to come down and live over Crilly's shop.
MRS. CRILLY
And where else would he live in the name of God?
ALBERT
He won't want to live with our crowd.
MRS. CRILLY What crowd? The boys can be sent to school, you'll be on your situation, and Anna will be away. (She seats herself in the armchair) I don't know what Albert means when he says that the Master would not be content to live with us. It was always settled that he would come to us when his service was over.
Albert, who has been going over the books, has met something that surprises him. He draws Crilly to the desk. The two go over the papers, puzzled and excited. Anna Crilly enters from corridor. She is a handsome girl of about nineteen or twenty, with a rich complexion dark hair and eyes. She is well dressed, and wears a cap of dark fur. She stands at the stove, behind her mother, holding her hands over the stove. Mrs. Crilly watches the pair at the desk.
MRS. CRILLY We can't think of allowing a pension of fifty pounds a year to go out of our house. Where will we get money to send the boys to school?
ANNA
Mother. Grandfather is going to live away from us.
MRS. CRILLY
Why do you repeat what Albert says?
ANNA
I didn't hear Albert say anything.
MRS. CRILLY
Then, what are you talking about?
ANNA Grandfather goes to Martin's cottage nearly every evening, and stays there for hours. They'll be leaving the place in a year or two, and Grandfather was saying that he would take the cottage when he retired from the Workhouse.
MRS. CRILLY
When did you hear this?
ANNA
This evening. Delia Martin told me.
MRS. CRILLY And that's the reason why he has kept away from us. He goes to strangers, and leaves us in black ignorance of his thought.
Crilly and Albert are busy at desk.
CRILLY
Well, damn it all—
ALBERT
Here's the voucher.
CRILLY
God! I don't know what's to be done.
ALBERT
It's a matter of fifty tons.
Albert turns round deliberately, leaving his father going through the papers in desperate eagerness. Albert takes a cigarette from behind his ear, takes a match-box from his waistcoat pocket, and strikes a light. He goes towards door of apartments. Mrs. Crilly rises.
ALBERT (his hand on the handle of door) Well so-long.
MRS. CRILLY
Where are you going?
ALBERT
I'm leaving you to talk it over with the old man.
Mrs. Crilly looks from Albert to Crilly.
CRILLY
The Master has let himself in for something serious, Marianne.
ALBERT
It's a matter of fifty pounds. The old man has let the
Guardians pay for a hundred tons of coal when only fifty were
delivered.
MRS. CRILLY
Is that so, Crofton?
CRILLY
It looks like it, Marianne.
ALBERT There were fifty tons of coal already in stores, but the Governor didn't take them into account. That cute boy, James Covey, delivered fifty tons and charged for the hundred. The old man passed on the certificate, and the Guardians paid Covey. They helped him to his passage to America. (He opens door and goes through)
MRS. CRILLY
They will dismiss him—dismiss him without a pension.
ANNA Mother. If he gets the pension first, could they take it back from him?
CRILLY No. But they could make him pay back the fifty pounds in instalments.
MRS. CRILLY
Fifty pounds! We can't afford to lose fifty pounds.
ANNA
Who would find out about the coal, father?
CRILLY
The Guardians who take stock.
ANNA And how would they know at this time whether there was a hundred or a hundred and fifty tons there at first?
CRILLY The business men amongst them would know. However, there won't be an inspection for some time.
ANNA
Suppose grandfather had got his pension and had left the
Workhouse, who would know about the coal?
CRILLY
The new Workhouse Master.
MRS. CRILLY
The new Workhouse Master—
CRILLY
Marianne—
MRS. CRILLY
Well?
CRILLY
I think I'll stay here and advise the old man.
MRS. CRILLY
No. Go away.
CRILLY (at door of apartments) After all, I'm one of the Guardians, and something might be done.
MRS. CRILLY You can do nothing. We can do nothing for him. Let him go to the strangers.
Crilly goes out.
MRS. CRILLY
Anna!
ANNA
Yes, mother.
MRS. CRILLY
The Martins are not giving up their house for a year or two?
ANNA
No, mother.
MRS. CRILLY If he resigns now his pension will be safe. There is nothing else against him.
ANNA
But some one will find out the difference in the coal.
MRS. CRILLY
It's the new Workhouse Master who will know that.
ANNA (hardening) But he could not pass such a thing, mother.
MRS. CRILLY (abandoning a position) Well, after your grandfather gets his pension we could make some arrangement with the Guardians.
ANNA Yes, mother. Hasn't grandfather a hundred pounds invested in the shop?
MRS. CRILLY It's not a hundred pounds. Besides, it's not an investment.
ANNA (with a certain resolution in her rich voice) Mother. Is my money safe?
MRS. CRILLY We could give you the eighty pounds, Anna, but after that we would need all the help we could get from you.
ANNA
Yes, mother.
MRS. CRILLY (again taking up a position) But if we help James Scollard to the place.
ANNA (with determination) Whether Mr. Scollard gets the place or does not get the place, I'll want my fortune, mother.
MRS. CRILLY Very well, Anna. If we could get him to come over. … (She sits in arm chair) There's a lamb in Ginnell's field; you might call in to-morrow and ask them to prepare it for us.
ANNA
Then grandfather is coming to dinner on Sunday?
MRS. CRILLY
We must get him to come.
Some one is coming up the passage. Anna's hand is on handle of door.
She holds it open. Thomas Muskerry stands there.
MUSKERRY (pleased to see her) Well, Nancy!
ANNA
Good night, grandpapa. (He regards her with fondness)
MRS. CRILLY
Good night, father.
MUSKERRY
This Nancy girl is looking remarkably well. (He turns to
Mrs. Crilly) Well, ma'am, and how are you? I've written that letter
for that rascally Albert.
He leaves his stick on table and goes to desk. Mrs. Crilly watches him. Anna comes to her. Muskerry addresses an envelope with some labour. Mrs. Crilly notices a tress of Anna's hair falling down. Anna kneels down beside her. She takes off Anna's cap, settles up the hair, and puts the cap on again. Having addressed the envelope, Muskerry holds up a piece of wax to the gas. He seals the letter then holds it out.
MUSKERRY Here's the letter now, and maybe it's the last thing I can do for any of ye.
MRS. CRILLY
You are very good.
Muskerry goes to them.
MUSKERRY
In season and out of season I've put myself at your service.
I can do no more for ye.
She takes the letter from him. His resentment is breaking down. He
sits on chair beside armchair. He speaks in a reconciling tone.
MUSKERRY
You're looking well, Marianne,
MRS. CRILLY
I'm beginning to be well again.
MUSKERRY
And the infant? What age is he now?
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 competition with the others. (She wraps the muffler 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 damn 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.
Christy Clarice enters by corridor door with papers.
MUSKERRY
They want me to resign from this place, Christy.
CHRISTY
You're thirty years here! Aren't you, Mister Muskerry?
MUSKERRY Thirty years, thirty years. Ay, Christy, thirty years; it's a long time. And I'm at my failing time. Perhaps I'm not able to do any more. Day after day there would be troubles here, and I wouldn't be able to face them. And in the end I might lose my position. I'm going to write out my resignation. (He goes to the desk and writes. Christy is at table. Muskerry turns round after writing)
MUSKERRY No one that comes here can have the same heart for the poor that I had. I was earning in the year of the famine. I saw able men struggling to get the work that would bring them a handful of Indian meal. And I saw the little children waiting on the roads for relief. (He turns back and goes on with letter. Suddenly a bell in the House begins to toll) What's that for, Christy?
CHRISTY
Malachi O'Rourk, the Prince, as they called him, is dead.
MUSKERRY Aye, I gave orders to toll him when he died. He was an estated gentleman, and songs were made about his family. People used to annoy him, but he's gone from them now. Bring me a little whisky, Christy.
Christy goes to Cabinet. Muskerry follows him.
CHRISTY
There's none in the bottle, Mister Muskerry.
MUSKERRY (bitterly) No, I suppose not. And is that rascal, Albert Crilly, coming back?
CHRISTY
He's coming, Mister Muskerry. I left the novelette on the
table. Miss Coghlan says it's a nice love story. "The Heart of
Angelina," it is called.
MUSKERRY
I haven't the heart to read.
The bell continues to toll. Christy goes to door.
CHRISTY
Good night, Mister Muskerry.
MUSKERRY
Good night, Christy.
Christy Clarke goes out through apartments. Thomas Muskerry is
standing with hand on arm chair. The bell tolls.
CURTAIN
ACT SECOND
In Crilly's, a month later. The room is the parlour off the shop. A glass door, right, leads into the shop, and the fireplace is above this door. In the back, right, is a cupboard door. Back is a window looking on the street. A door, left, leads to other rooms. There is a table near shop door and a horse-hair sofa back, an armchair at fire, and two leather-covered chairs about. Conventional pictures on walls, and two certificates framed, showing that some one in the house has passed some Intermediate examinations.
It is the forenoon of an April day. Mrs. Crilly is seated on sofa, going through a heap of account books. Anna Crilly is at window. Crofton Crilly enters from the shop.
CRILLY
It's all right, Marianne.
MRS. CRILLY
Well?
CRILLY The Guardians insisted on appointing an outside person to take stock of the workhouse stores. It's the new regulation, you know. Well, the job lay between young Dobbs and Albert, and Albert has got it. I don't say but it was a near thing.
MRS. CRILLY
I hope Albert will know what to do.
CRILLY
He'll want to watch the points. Where's the Master?
MRS. CRILLY
He's in his room upstairs.
CRILLY
Was he not out this morning?
MRS. CRILLY
He's not dressed yet.
CRILLY
He was more particular when he was in the workhouse.
ANNA I know who those two children are now. They are the new gas-manager's children.
CRILLY
He's a Scotchman.
ANNA And married for the second time. Mother, Mrs. Dunne is going to the races. Such a sketch of a hat.
MRS. CRILLY It would be better for her if she stayed at home and looked after her business.
ANNA She won't have much business to look after soon. That's the third time her husband has come out of Farrell's public-house.
CRILLY He's drinking with the Dispensary Doctor. Companions! They're the curse of this town, Marianne. (He sits down)
ANNA
She's walked into a blind man, hat and all. He's from the Workhouse.
CRILLY
He's the blind piper out of the workhouse, Myles Gorman.
MRS. CRILLY
There's no one within. You should go into the shop, Anna.
ANNA
Yes, mother. (She crosses) James Scollard is coming in, mother.
MRS. CRILLY
Very well, Anna. Stay in the shop until Mary comes.
Anna goes into the shop. Crilly moves about.
MRS. CRILLY
You're very uneasy.
CRILLY
Yes, I am uneasy, Marianne. There's some presentment on me.
Fifty pounds a year is a good pension for the old man. He's a month
out now. He ought to be getting an instalment.
Anna comes in from shop.
ANNA
Mother, the doctor's daughter is in the shop.
MRS. CRILLY
What does she want?
ANNA (imitating an accent) Send up a pound of butter, two pounds of sugar, and a pound of tea.
MRS. CRILLY
These people are paying nobody. But we can't refuse her.
I suppose we'll have to send them up. Be very distant with her, Anna.
ANNA
I've kept her waiting. Here's a letter, mother.
MRS. CRILLY (taking letter) When did it come, Anna?
ANNA
It's just handed in.
Anna goes out. Mrs. Crilly opens letter.
MRS. CRILLY It's from the bank. They want me to call. What does the bank manager want with me, I wonder?
CRILLY I have something to tell you, Marianne. I'll tell you in a while. (He takes a turn up and down)
MRS. CRILLY
What do you want to tell me?
CRILLY
Prepare your mind, Marianne.
MRS. CRILLY
What is it?
CRILLY
I owe you money, Marianne.
MRS. CRILLY
Money! How do you owe me money?
CRILLY
That cute boy, James Covey, who took in all the town—
MRS. CRILLY (rising) Covey! My God! You backed a bill for him?
CRILLY
I'll make a clean breast of it. I did.
MRS. CRILLY (with fear in her eyes) How much is it?
CRILLY (walking away to window) I'll come to that, Marianne.
MRS. CRILLY
Did any one back the bill with you?
CRILLY
I obliged the fellow. No one backed the bill with me.
MRS. CRILLY
Does any one know of it?
CRILLY
No, Marianne.
MRS. CRILLY
The bank…. Tell me what happened.
CRILLY
The bank manager sent for me when he came to the town after
Covey cleared.
MRS. CRILLY
We had four hundred pounds in the bank.
CRILLY
We had, Marianne.
MRS. CRILLY
Tell me how much was the bill.
CRILLY There's no use in beating about the bush. The bill was for three hundred pounds.
MRS. CRILLY
And what has the bank done?
CRILLY I'm sorry to say, Marianne, the bank has taken the money over from our account.
MRS. CRILLY
You've ruined us at last, Crofton Crilly.
CRILLY You should never forgive me, Marianne. I'll go to America and begin life again. (He turns to go out by shop)
MRS. CRILLY
We have no money left.
CRILLY
A hundred pounds, Marianne.
MRS. CRILLY
That's Anna's money.
CRILLY
Scollard should be satisfied.
MRS. CRILLY
Anna insists on getting her money.
CRILLY
Very well, Marianne. I'll leave it all to yourself.
James Scollard comes in. Anna is behind him. Scollard has an
account book in his hand.
SCOLLARD
Good morning, Mrs. Crilly. Good morning, Mr. Crilly.
MRS. CRILLY
Good morning, Mr. Scollard.
Crofton Crilly turns to go.
ANNA
Don't go, father.
SCOLLARD Don't go, Mr. Crilly. I have something particular to say to yourself and Mrs. Crilly.
MRS. CRILLY
Sit down, Mr. Scollard.
Anna brings chair, and Scollard sits center. Anna stands behind him.
Mrs. Crilly sits left of him.
SCOLLARD
I am here to propose for the hand of your daughter, Miss
Anna Crilly.
MRS. CRILLY
We have nothing to say against your proposal, Mr. Scollard.
CRILLY
Won't you take something, James?
SCOLLARD
No, thanks, Mr. Crilly. I never touch intoxicants.
Crofton Crilly goes into shop.
MRS. CRILLY We couldn't wish for a better match for Anna. But I feel bound to tell you, Mr. Scollard, that we have had a very severe loss in our business.
ANNA
What is it, mother?
MRS. CRILLY I don't mind telling you. Mr. Crilly has made himself responsible for a bill on the bank.
SCOLLARD
In whose interest, Mrs. Crilly?
MRS. CRILLY He backed a bill for James Covey. A bill for three hundred pounds.
ANNA
Oh, mother!
MRS. CRILLY
It's a dead sure loss. I don't know what we are to do,
Anna.
SCOLLARD
This is very bad, Mrs. Crilly.
Crofton Crilly comes back from shop. He brings in a glass of whisky.
He puts whisky on chimney-piece.
MRS. CRILLY The bank has taken over three hundred pounds from our account.
CRILLY
Perhaps Scollard—
SCOLLARD
What were you saying, Mr. Crilly?
CRILLY Oh, I was just thinking—about a bill you know—If some one would go security for us at the bank—
ANNA
Father, what are you saying?
MRS. CRILLY It's unnecessary to talk like that. In spite of your foolishness, we still have a balance at the bank.
ANNA
My portion comes to me from my grandmother.
SCOLLARD
May I ask, Mrs. Crilly, is Miss Crilly's portion safe?
MRS. CRILLY
It is safe, Mr. Scollard.
SCOLLARD I have been definitely appointed Master of the Union, and I may say that Anna and myself are anxious to marry.
MRS. CRILLY
It needn't be soon, Mr. Scollard.
SCOLLARD
After Easter, Mrs. Crilly.
MRS. CRILLY
But that's very soon.
SCOLLARD I am anxious to settle down, Mrs. Crilly. I'm on my way to a meeting of the Board of Guardians, but before I go I'd like to have some more information about your loss.
MRS. CRILLY Anna's portion is not touched, but we could hardly afford to let the money go from us now.
SCOLLARD
Is that so, Mrs. Crilly?
MRS. CRILLY
Three hundred pounds is a very severe loss.
SCOLLARD Very severe, indeed. Still, you understand, Mrs. Crilly, the difficulties of taking such a step as marriage without adequate provision.
CRILLY Damn it all, man, Marianne and myself married without anything at all.
MRS. CRILLY (bitterly) Anna won't be such a fool as her mother.
CRILLY
Well, Scollard has his position, and we helped him to it.
SCOLLARD
I acknowledge that.
ANNA
Isn't my portion eighty pounds, mother?
MRS. CRILLY Yes, Anna. But I'd like to tell Mr. Scollard that it would come as a strain on us to let the money go at once.
SCOLLARD
I daresay, Mrs. Crilly.
ANNA
But, mother, wouldn't the money be safer with us?
MRS. CRILLY
Well, I leave the whole thing in the hands of Mr.
Scollard.
SCOLLARD
Anna and myself have been talking things over, Mrs. Crilly.
ANNA
And we don't want to begin life in a poor way.
SCOLLARD
We see the advantage of being always solvent, Mrs. Crilly.
ANNA
James has ambitions, and there's no reason why he shouldn't
venture for the post of Secretary of the County Council when old
Mr. Dobbs retires.
SCOLLARD In a few years, Mrs. Crilly, when I had more official experience and some reputation.
ANNA
Then he would have seven or eight hundred a year.
SCOLLARD As I said, a man like myself would want to be in a perfectly solvent position.
ANNA
Besides, James has no money of his own.
SCOLLARD
I never had the chance of putting money by—Family calls,
Mrs. Crilly.
ANNA
And we don't want to begin life in a poor way.
MRS. CRILLY You won't want the whole of the money. I'll give you forty pounds now.
CRILLY
And forty when the first child is born.
ANNA
Oh, father, how can you say such a thing?
SCOLLARD I need only say this. Anna and myself were talking over affairs, and we came to the conclusion it would be best not to start with less than eighty pounds. (He rises) I have to go down to the Board Room now, for there is a meeting of the Guardians. (He goes towards door)
CRILLY
Won't you take a glass?
SCOLLARD No, thanks, Mr. Crilly. I never touch stimulants. Good day to you all.
He goes out. Crofton Crilly goes after him.
MRS. CRILLY
Anna, you won't be deprived of your money.
ANNA
Then what's the difficulty, mother?
MRS. CRILLY
Let half of the money remain with us for a while.
ANNA But, mother, if I don't get all my money, what security have I that what's left will be good in six months or a year?
MRS. CRILLY
I'll watch the money for you, Anna.
ANNA It's hard to keep a hold on money in a town where business is going down.
MRS. CRILLY Forty pounds will be given to you and forty pounds will be kept safe for you.
ANNA Forty pounds! There's not a small farmer comes into the shop but his daughter has more of a dowry than forty pounds.
MRS. CRILLY
Think of all who marry without a dowry at all.
ANNA
You wouldn't have me go to James Scollard without a dowry?
MRS. CRILLY Well, you know the way we're situated. If you insist on getting eighty pounds we'll have to make an overdraft on the bank, and, in the way business is, I don't know how we'll ever recover it.
ANNA There won't be much left out of eighty pounds when we get what suits us in furniture.
MRS. CRILLY
I could let you have some furniture.
ANNA No, mother. We want to start in a way that is different from this house.
MRS. CRILLY
You'll want all the money together?
ANNA
All of it, mother.
MRS. CRILLY
You'll have to get it so. But you're very hard, Anna.
ANNA
This house would teach any one to look to themselves.
MRS. CRILLY Come upstairs. (Anna goes, left) Three hundred pounds of a loss. Eighty pounds with that. I'm terrified when I think. (She goes after Anna)
Crofton Crilly comes in from shop. He takes glass of whisky from table, and sits down in arm chair.
CRILLY I don't know what Marianne's to do at all. She has a shocking lot to contend with. Can anything be got from the old man, I wonder?
Albert Crilly comes in by door, left.
ALBERT
Well, pa.
CRILLY
Well, Albert. What's the news in the town, Albert?
ALBERT
They say that you've backed a bill for Covey.
CRILLY
If your mother hears that kind of talk she'll be vexed, Albert.
ALBERT
But did you back the bill?
CRILLY For Heaven's sake, let me alone, Albert. Yes, I backed the bill.
ALBERT
How much?
CRILLY
You'll hear all about it from your mother.
ALBERT
They say the bill was for three hundred.
CRILLY
It was three or thereabouts.
ALBERT 'Pon my word, father, the mother will have to take out a mandamus against you.
CRILLY (with parental dignity) Don't talk to me in that way, Sir.
ALBERT
It's scandalous, really. I expect you've ruined the business.
CRILLY
I hate the world and all its works and pomps.
ALBERT
I believe you've done for the business. I'm going away.
CRILLY
Then you've got the other appointment?
ALBERT Temporary clerkship in the Land Department. I wonder would the mother let me have the money for clothes?
CRILLY (desperately) Don't mention it at all to her.
ALBERT I have a card from a Dublin tailor in my pocket. If I could pay him for one suit, I could get another on tick.
CRILLY
I tell you not to talk to your mother about money. That fellow,
Scollard, has put her out.
ALBERT
How's that?
CRILLY
Money again. Wants the whole of Anna's portion down. And
Anna's backing him up, too. I don't know how your mother can stand it.
I don't like Scollard. Then you won't be staying on, Albert, to do
the stocktaking in the Workhouse?
ALBERT No; they'll have to get some one else. I'm glad to be out of that job.
CRILLY
I'm not sorry, Albert.
ALBERT
The mother would expect me to do something queer in my report.
CRILLY Between you and me, Albert, women aren't acquainted with the working of affairs, and they expect unusual things to happen. Who will they make stocktaker, now?
ALBERT Young Dobbs, likely. I suppose the whole business about the coal will come out then?
CRILLY I suppose it will; but say nothing about it now, Albert. Let the hare sit.
ALBERT
What does the old man think about it now?
CRILLY He's very close to himself. I think he has forgotten all about it.
ALBERT
I wouldn't say so.
CRILLY
Who's that in the shop, Albert?
ALBERT
Felix Tournour.
CRILLY (rising) I wonder what they think about Scollard in the Poor-house. (He and Albert go into the shop as Muskerry enters from left)
Muskerry is untidily dressed. His boots are unlaced. He walks across the room and speaks pettishly.
MUSKERRY They haven't brought my soup yet. They won't give much of their time to me. I'm disappointed in Anna Crilly. Well, a certain share in this shop was to have gone to Anna Crilly. I'll get that share, and I'll hoard it up myself. I'll hoard it up. And the fifty pounds of my pension, I'll hoard that up, too.
Albert comes in from shop.
MUSKERRY That's a black fire that's in the grate. I don't like the coal that comes into this place.
ALBERT
Coal, eh, grandpapa.
MUSKERRY
I said coal.
ALBERT
We haven't good stores here.
MUSKERRY
Confound you for your insolence.
ALBERT
Somebody you know is in the shop—Felix Tournour.
MUSKERRY
Bid Tournour come in to me.
ALBERT (talking into the shop) You're wanted here, Tournour. Come in now or I'll entertain the boss with "The Devil's Rambles." (He turns to Muskerry) I was given the job of stocktaking.
MUSKERRY
That's a matter for yourself.
ALBERT
I don't think I'll take the job now.
MUSKERRY
Why won't you take it?
ALBERT
I don't know what to say about the fifty tons of coal.
MUSKERRY I was too precipitate about the coal. But don't have me at the loss of fifty pounds through any of your smartness.
ALBERT
All right, grandfather; I'll see you through.
MUSKERRY
Confound you for a puppy.
Felix Tournour enters. He looks prosperous. He has on a loud check
suit. He wears a red tie and a peaked cap.
ALBERT
The Master wants to speak to you, Tournour.
TOURNOUR
What Master.
ALBERT
The boss, Tournour, the boss.
MUSKERRY
I want you, and that's enough for you, Tournour.
ALBERT I suppose you don't know, grandpapa, that Tournour has a middling high position in the Poorhouse now.
MUSKERRY
What are you saying?
ALBERT
Tournour is Ward-master now.
MUSKERRY
I wasn't given any notice of that.
ALBERT
Eh, Tournour—
"The Devil went out for a ramble at night,
Through Garrisowen Union to see every sight.
He saw Felix Tournour—"
TOURNOUR
"He saw one in comfort, of that you'll be sure.
With his back to the fire stands Felix Tournour,"
He puts his back to fire.
ALBERT
Well, so-long, gents. (He goes out by shop door)
MUSKERRY
Let me see you, Tournour.
TOURNOUR
I'm plain to be seen.
MUSKERRY
Who recommended you for Ward-master?
TOURNOUR
Them that had the power.
MUSKERRY
I would not have done it, Tournour.
TOURNOUR No. And still, d'ye see, I'm up and not down. Well, I'll be going.
MUSKERRY
Come back here, Tournour. I made it a rule that no
Ward-master should let drink be brought in to the paupers.
TOURNOUR
It's a pity you're not Master still!
MUSKERRY
What are you saying?
TOURNOUR
It's a pity that you're not still the Master over us.
MUSKERRY
Tournour, you're forgetting yourself.
TOURNOUR
Well, maybe you are still the Master.
MUSKERRY
How dare you speak to me with such effrontery? How dare you?
TOURNOUR I dunno. I'm going away now, if your honour has nothing more to say to me. (He turns to go)
MUSKERRY
You shall not. You shall not, I say.
TOURNOUR
What?
MUSKERRY
You shall not go away until you've apologised to me.
TOURNOUR
Don't be talking, Thomas Muskerry. You're not Master over me.
MUSKERRY
Not the Master over you?
TOURNOUR
No. There's an end to your sway, Mr. Muskerry.
MUSKERRY Go out of the house. No, stay here. You think I'm out of the Workhouse. No. That's not so. I've claims, great claims, on it still. Not for nothing was I there for thirty years, the pattern for the officials of Ireland.
TOURNOUR
Twenty-nine years, I'm telling you.
MUSKERRY
The Guardians will take account of me.
TOURNOUR
And maybe they would, too.
MUSKERRY
What's that you're saying?
TOURNOUR The Guardians might take an account of Thomas Muskerry in a way he mightn't like. (He goes to door)
MUSKERRY
Come back here, Felix Tournour.
TOURNOUR
I'm not your sub-servant.
MUSKERRY
Stand here before me.
TOURNOUR You and your before me! Your back to heaven and your belly to hell.
MUSKERRY
Go away. Go away out of this.
TOURNOUR
Don't try to down-face me. I know something about you.
MUSKERRY
About me!
TOURNOUR Aye, you and your fifty tons of coal. (Muskerry goes back from him) Great claims on the Workhouse have you. The Guardians will take account of you. Will they? Talk to them about the fifty tons of coal. Go and do that, my pattern of the officials of Ireland!
Tournour goes out by shop. Muskerry stands with his hands on the arm chair.
MUSKERRY This minute I'll go down to the Guardians and make my complaint. (He notices his appearance) I'm going about all day with my boots unlaced. I'm falling into bad ways, bad, slovenly ways. And my coat needs brushing, too. (He takes off his coat and goes to window and brushes it) That's Myles Gorman going back to the Workhouse. I couldn't walk with my head held as high as that. In this house I am losing my uprightness. I'll do more than lace my boots and brush my coat. I'll go down to the Guardians and I'll pay them back their fifty pounds.
Anna Crilly comes in from left with a bowl of soup.
ANNA
Here's your soup, grandpapa.
MUSKERRY
I can't take it now, Anna. (He puts on his coat)
ANNA
Are you going out, grandpapa?
MUSKERRY
I'm going before the meeting of the Board of Guardians.
ANNA
Are you, grandpapa?
MUSKERRY Yes, Anna, I am. I'm going to pay them back their fifty pounds.
ANNA
And have you the fifty pounds?
MUSKERRY
Your mother has it for me.
ANNA
Sit down, grandpapa, and take your soup.
MUSKERRY No, Anna, I won't take anything until my mind is at rest about the coal. A certain person has spoken to me in a way I'll never submit to be spoken to again.
Mrs. Crilly comes in.
MRS. CRILLY
What has happened to you?
MUSKERRY Felix Tournour knows about the coal, Marianne. He can disgrace me before the world.
ANNA And grandpapa wants to go before the Guardians and pay them back the fifty pounds.
MRS. CRILLY
Wait until we consult Mr. Scollard.
Anna goes out.
MUSKERRY
No, Marianne. I'm not going to be a party to this any longer.
I'm going before the Guardians, and I'll pay them back their fifty
pounds.
MRS. CRILLY Fifty pounds. From what place is fifty pounds to come so easily?
MUSKERRY
I'll ask you to give me the fifty pounds, Marianne.
MRS. CRILLY I'll do no such thing. Anna is getting married, and she claims her fortune.
MUSKERRY
Anna getting married. This was kept from me. And who is
Anna getting married to?
MRS. CRILLY
To James Scollard.
MUSKERRY To James Scollard. And so Anna is getting married to my successor, James Scollard. My successor. How well I knew there was some such scheme behind shifting me out of the Workhouse. And Anna Crilly was against me all the time. Well, well, well. I'll remember this.
MRS. CRILLY
I'm at great losses since you came here.
MUSKERRY
I'm at greater losses, Marianne.
MRS. CRILLY
What losses are you at?
MUSKERRY The loss of my trust, the loss of my dignity, my self-respect, and—
MRS. CRILLY
I think we did all we could for you.
MUSKERRY I'm going out now to pay back the Guardians the sum due to them from me. I want fifty pounds from you. I claim it, and I have a right to claim it.
MRS. CRILLY We have no money at all. Listen. Crofton Crilly backed a bill for James Covey, and three hundred pounds has been taken from our account.
MUSKERRY
Three hundred pounds!
MRS. CRILLY
Yes. Three hundred pounds.
MUSKERRY He backed a bill for three hundred pounds. And do you think, Marianne Crilly, there can be any luck, in a house where such a thing could happen? I tell you there is no luck nor grace in your house. (He puts on his hat and goes to cupboard to get his stick. He opens the cupboard. He turns round)
MUSKERRY (greatly moved) My God, my God. I'm made cry at the things that happen in this house.
MRS. CRILLY
What is it?
MUSKERRY The good meat I brought in. There it is on the floor and the cat mangling it. I'll go out of this house, and I'll never put foot into it again.
MRS. CRILLY
And where will you go?
MUSKERRY I'll go before the Board of Guardians and I'll ask them to provide for me.
MRS. CRILLY
What do you want me to do for you?
MUSKERRY
Give me fifty pounds, so that I can pay them off now.
MRS. CRILLY
Haven't I told you the way I'm straitened for money?
MUSKERRY
You have still in the bank what would save my name.
MRS. CRILLY
Don't be unreasonable. I have to provide for my children.
MUSKERRY Your children. Yes, you have to provide for your children. I provided for them long enough. And now you would take my place, my honour, and my self-respect, and provide for them over again. (He goes out)
MRS. CRILLY
I'll have to put up with this, too.
Anna re-enters.
ANNA
Where has he gone, mother?
MRS. CRILLY
He has gone down to the Workhouse.
ANNA
What is he going to do, mother?
MRS. CRILLY
He says he will ask the Guardians to provide for him.
ANNA It's not likely they'll do that for a man with a pension of fifty pounds a year.
MRS. CRILLY
I don't know what will happen to us.
ANNA
He'll come back, mother.
MRS. CRILLY He will. But everything will have been made public, and the money will have to be paid.
ANNA (at the window) There he is going down the street, mother.
MRS. CRILLY
Which way?
ANNA Towards the Workhouse. And here's the doctor's daughter coming into the shop again, mother.
MRS. CRILLY
I'll go out and see her myself. (As she goes out she
hands Anna a cheque) That's the last cheque I'll be able to make out.
There's your eighty pounds, Anna. (She goes into the shop)
ANNA
We can begin to get the furniture now.
She sits down at the table and makes some calculation with a pencil.