Bill Carmody, Mrs. Brennan, _and_
Mary. Carmody's _manner is unwontedly sober and subdued. This air
of respectable sobriety is further enhanced by a black suit,
glaringly new and stiffly pressed, a new black derby hat, and shoes
polished like a mirror. His expression is full of a bitter, if
suppressed, resentment. His gentility is evidently forced upon him
in spite of himself and correspondingly irksome._ Mrs. Brennan _is
a tall, stout woman of fifty, lusty and loud-voiced, with a broad,
snub-nosed, florid face, a large mouth, the upper lip darkened by a
suggestion of moustache, and little round blue eyes, hard and
restless with a continual fuming irritation. She is got up
regardless in her ridiculous Sunday-best._ Mary _appears tall and
skinny-legged in a starched, outgrown frock. The sweetness of her
face has disappeared, giving way to a hang-dog sullenness, a
stubborn silence, with sulky, furtive glances of rebellion directed
at her step-mother._

MISS HOWARD (_pointing to the porch_). She's out there on the porch.

MRS. BRENNAN (_with dignity_). Thank you, ma'am.

MISS HOWARD (_with a searching glance at the visitors as if to appraise
their intentions_). Eileen's been very sick lately, you know, so be
careful not to worry her about anything. Do your best to cheer her up.

CARMODY (_mournfully_). We'll try to put life in her spirits, God help
her. (_With an uncertain look at_ Mrs. Brennan.) Won't we, Maggie?

MRS. BRENNAN (_turning sharply on_ Mary, _who has gone over to examine
the things on the bureau_). Come away from that, Mary. Curiosity killed
a cat. Don't be touchin' her things. Remember what I told you. Or is it
admirin' your mug in the mirror you are? (_Turning to_ Miss Howard _as_
Mary _moves away from the bureau, hanging her head--shortly._) Don't
you worry, ma'am. We won't trouble Eileen at all.

MISS HOWARD. Another thing. You mustn't say anything to her of what
Miss Gilpin just told you about her being sent away to the State Farm
in a few days. Eileen isn't to know till the very last minute. It would
only disturb her.

CARMODY (_hastily_). We'll not say a word of it.

MISS HOWARD (_turning to the hall door_). Thank you.

(_She goes out, shutting the door._)

MRS. BRENNAN (_angrily_). She has a lot of impudent gab, that one, with
her don't do this and don't do that! It's a wonder you wouldn't speak
up to her and shut her mouth,