Mrs. Crilly looks from Albert to Crilly.

CRILLY
The Master has let himself in for something serious, Marianne.

ALBERT
It’s a matter of fifty pounds.  The old man has let the
Guardians pay for a hundred tons of coal when only fifty were
delivered.

MRS. CRILLY
Is that so, Crofton?

CRILLY
It looks like it, Marianne.

ALBERT There were fifty tons of coal already in stores, but the Governor didn’t take them into account.  That cute boy, James Covey, delivered fifty tons and charged for the hundred.  The old man passed on the certificate, and the Guardians paid Covey.  They helped him to his passage to America. (He opens door and goes through)

MRS. CRILLY
They will dismiss him—­dismiss him without a pension.

ANNA
Mother.  If he gets the pension first, could they take it back
from him?

CRILLY
No.  But they could make him pay back the fifty pounds in
instalments.

MRS. CRILLY
Fifty pounds!  We can’t afford to lose fifty pounds.

ANNA
Who would find out about the coal, father?

CRILLY
The Guardians who take stock.

ANNA
And how would they know at this time whether there was a
hundred or a hundred and fifty tons there at first?

CRILLY
The business men amongst them would know.  However, there
won’t be an inspection for some time.

ANNA
Suppose grandfather had got his pension and had left the
Workhouse, who would know about the coal?

CRILLY
The new Workhouse Master.

MRS. CRILLY
The new Workhouse Master—­

CRILLY
Marianne—­

MRS. CRILLY
Well?

CRILLY
I think I’ll stay here and advise the old man.

MRS. CRILLY
No.  Go away.

CRILLY (at door of apartments) After all, I’m one of the Guardians, and something might be done.

MRS. CRILLY
You can do nothing.  We can do nothing for him.  Let him
go to the strangers.

  Crilly goes out.

MRS. CRILLY
Anna!

ANNA
Yes, mother.

MRS. CRILLY
The Martins are not giving up their house for a year or two?

ANNA
No, mother.

MRS. CRILLY
If he resigns now his pension will be safe.  There is
nothing else against him.

ANNA
But some one will find out the difference in the coal.

MRS. CRILLY
It’s the new Workhouse Master who will know that.

ANNA
(hardening) But he could not pass such a thing, mother.

MRS. CRILLY (abandoning a position) Well, after your grandfather gets his pension we could make some arrangement with the Guardians.

ANNA
Yes, mother.  Hasn’t grandfather a hundred pounds invested in
the shop?

MRS. CRILLY
It’s not a hundred pounds.  Besides, it’s not an
investment.