ANNA
She’s walked into a blind man, hat and all.  He’s from the Workhouse.

CRILLY
He’s the blind piper out of the workhouse, Myles Gorman.

MRS. CRILLY
There’s no one within.  You should go into the shop, Anna.

ANNA
Yes, mother. (She crosses) James Scollard is coming in, mother.

MRS. CRILLY
Very well, Anna.  Stay in the shop until Mary comes.

  Anna goes into the shop.  Crilly moves about.

MRS. CRILLY
You’re very uneasy.

CRILLY
Yes, I am uneasy, Marianne.  There’s some presentment on me. 
Fifty pounds a year is a good pension for the old man.  He’s a month
out now.  He ought to be getting an instalment.

  Anna comes in from shop.

ANNA
Mother, the doctor’s daughter is in the shop.

MRS. CRILLY
What does she want?

ANNA (imitating an accent) Send up a pound of butter, two pounds of sugar, and a pound of tea.

MRS. CRILLY
These people are paying nobody.  But we can’t refuse her. 
I suppose we’ll have to send them up.  Be very distant with her, Anna.

ANNA
I’ve kept her waiting.  Here’s a letter, mother.

MRS. CRILLY
(taking letter) When did it come, Anna?

ANNA
It’s just handed in.

  Anna goes out.  Mrs. Crilly opens letter.

MRS. CRILLY
It’s from the bank.  They want me to call.  What does the
bank manager want with me, I wonder?

CRILLY
I have something to tell you, Marianne.  I’ll tell you in a
while. (He takes a turn up and down)

MRS. CRILLY
What do you want to tell me?

CRILLY
Prepare your mind, Marianne.

MRS. CRILLY
What is it?

CRILLY
I owe you money, Marianne.

MRS. CRILLY
Money!  How do you owe me money?

CRILLY
That cute boy, James Covey, who took in all the town—­

MRS. CRILLY
(rising) Covey!  My God!  You backed a bill for him?

CRILLY
I’ll make a clean breast of it.  I did.

MRS. CRILLY
(with fear in her eyes) How much is it?

CRILLY
(walking away to window) I’ll come to that, Marianne.

MRS. CRILLY
Did any one back the bill with you?

CRILLY
I obliged the fellow.  No one backed the bill with me.

MRS. CRILLY
Does any one know of it?

CRILLY
No, Marianne.

MRS. CRILLY
The bank....  Tell me what happened.

CRILLY
The bank manager sent for me when he came to the town after
Covey cleared.

MRS. CRILLY
We had four hundred pounds in the bank.

CRILLY
We had, Marianne.

MRS. CRILLY
Tell me how much was the bill.

CRILLY
There’s no use in beating about the bush.  The bill was for
three hundred pounds.