r sister's face. She stammers._) Eileen--you look so--so
funny.

EILEEN (_without opening her eyes--in a dead voice_). You, too! I never
thought you---- Go away, please.

MRS. BRENNAN (_with satisfaction_). Come here to me, Mary, and don't be
botherin' your sister.

(Mary _avoids her step-mother, but retreats to the far end of the
porch where she stands shrunk back against the wall, her eyes
fixed on_ Eileen _with the same fascinated horror._)

CARMODY (_after an uncomfortable pause, forcing himself to speak_). Is
the pain bad, Eileen?

EILEEN (_dully--without opening her eyes_). There's no pain. (_There is
another pause--then she murmurs indifferently._) There are chairs in
the room you can bring out if you want to sit down.

MRS. BRENNAN (_sharply_). We've not time to be sittin'. We've the train
back to catch.

EILEEN (_in the same lifeless voice_). It's a disagreeable trip. I'm
sorry you had to come.

CARMODY (_fighting against an oppression he cannot understand, bursts
into a flood of words_). Don't be talking of the trip. Sure we're glad
to take it to get a sight of you. It's three months since I've had a
look at you, and I was anxious. Why haven't you written a line to us?
You could do that without trouble, surely. Don't you ever think of us
at all any more? (_He waits for an answer, but_ Eileen _remains silent
with her eyes closed._ Carmody _starts to walk up and down, talking
with an air of desperation._) You're not asking a bit of news from
home. I'm thinkin' the people out here have taken all the thought of us
out of your head. We're all well, thank God. I've another good job on
the streets from Murphy and one that'll last a long time, praise be!
I'm needin' it surely, with all the expenses--but no matter. Billy had
a raise from his old skinflint of a boss a month back. He's gettin'
seven a week now and proud as a turkey. He was comin' out with us
to-day, but he'd a date with his girl. Sure, he's got a girl now, the
young bucko! What d'you think of him? It's old Malloy's girl he's
after--the pop-eyed one with glasses, you remember--as ugly as a blind
sheep, only he don't think so. He said to give you his love. (Eileen
_stirs and sighs wearily, a frown appearing for an instant on her
forehead._) And Tom and Nora was comin' out too, but Father Fitz had
some doin's or other up to the school, and he told them to be there, so
they wouldn't come with us, but they sent their love to you, t