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
Thes