us to get me to come with you. What do you
want from me?

MRS. CRILLY
We want nothing from you. You know how insecure our
business is. When it's known in the town that you forsake us,
everybody will close in on us.

MUSKERRY
God knows I did everything that a man could do for you and
yours. I won't forget you. I haven't much life left to me, and I
want to live to myself.

MRS. CRILLY
I know. Sure I lie awake at night, too tired to sleep,
and long to get away from the things that are pressing in on me. I
know that people are glad of their own way, and glad to live in the
way that they like. When I heard the birds stirring I cried to be
away in some place where I won't hear the thing that's always
knocking at my head. The business has to be minded, and it's
slipping away from us like water. And listen, if my confinement
comes on me and I worried as I was last year, nothing can save me.
I'll die, surely.

MUSKERRY
_(moved)_ What more do you want me to do?

MRS. CRILLY
Stay with us for a while, so that we'll have the name of
your support.

MUSKERRY
I'll come back to you in a week.

MRS. CRILLY
That wouldn't do at all. There's a reason for what I ask.
The town must know that you are with us from the time you leave this.

MUSKERRY
_(with emotion)_ God help me with you all, and God direct
me what to do.

MRS. CRILLY
It's not in you to let us down.

_Muskerry turns away. His head is bent. Mrs. Crilly goes to him_.

MUSKERRY
Will you never be done taking from me? I want to leave this
and go to a place of my own.

_Muskerry puts his hand to his eyes. When he lowers his hand again
Mrs. Crilly lays hers in it. Christy Clarke comes in. Muskerry turns
to him. Muskerry has been crying_.

MUSKERRY
Well, Christy, I'll be sending you back on another message.

_Mrs. Crilly makes a sign to Christy not to speak_.

MUSKERRY
Go to your mother and tell her---

CHRISTY
I met my mother outside.

MUSKERRY
Did she get the things that were sent to her?

CHRISTY
My mother was sent away from the cottage.

MUSKERRY
Who sent your mother away from the cottage?

CHRISTY
Mrs. Crilly sent her away.

MUSKERRY
And why did you do that, ma'am?

MRS. CRILLY
I sent Mary to help to prepare the place for you, and
the woman was impertinent to Mary--

MUSKERRY
Well, ma'am?

MRS. CRILLY
I sent the woman away.

MUSKERRY
And so you take it on yourself to dispose of the servants
in my house?

MRS. CRILLY