of children and him not a
millionaire! (_With lugubrious self-pity._) Mary, dear, it's a black
curse God put on me when he took your mother just when I needed her
most. (Mary _commences to sob._ Carmody _starts and looks at her
angrily._) What are you sniffin' at?

MARY (_tearfully_). I was thinking--of Mamma.

CARMODY (_scornfully_). It's late you are with your tears, and her cold
in her grave for a year. Stop it, I'm tellin' you! (Mary _gulps back
her sobs._)

(_There is a noise of childish laughter and screams from the
street in front. The outside door is opened and slammed,
footsteps pound along the hall. The door in the rear is pushed
open, and_ Nora _and_ Tom _rush in breathlessly._ Nora _is a
bright, vivacious, red-haired girl of eleven--pretty after an
elfish, mischievous fashion--light-hearted and robust._)

(Tom _resembles_ Nora _in disposition and appearance. A healthy,
good-humoured youngster with a shock of sandy hair. He is a year
younger than_ Nora. _They are followed into the room, a moment
later, by their brother_ Billy, _who is evidently loftily
disgusted with their antics._ Billy _is a fourteen-year-old
replica of his father, whom he imitates even to the hoarse,
domineering tone of voice._)

CARMODY (_grumpily_). Ah, here you are, the lot of you. Shut that door
after you! What's the use in me spendin' money for coal if all you do
is to let the cold night in the room itself?

NORA (_hopping over to him--teasingly_). Me and Tom had a race, Papa. I
beat him. (_She sticks her tongue out at her younger brother._) Slow
poke!

TOM. You didn't beat me, neither!

NORA. I did, too!

TOM. You did not! You didn't play fair. You tripped me comin' up the
steps. Brick-top! Cheater!

NORA (_flaring up_). You're a liar! You stumbled over your own big
feet, clumsy bones! And I beat you fair Didn't I, Papa?

CARMODY (_with a grin_). You did, darlin', and fair, too. (Tom _slinks
back to the chair in the rear of table, sulking._ Carmody _pats_ Nora's
_red hair with delighted pride._) Sure it's you can beat the divil
himself!

NORA (_sticks out her tongue again at_ Tom). See? Liar! (_She goes and
perches on the table near_ Mary, _who is staring sadly in front of
her._)

CARMODY (_to_ Billy--_irritably_). Did you get the plug for me I told
you?

BILLY. Sure. (_He takes a plug of tobacco from his pocket and hands it
to his fath