Keegan.  And everybody laughed!

Nora.  Don’t go over that again, please, Mr Doran.

Doran.  Faith be the time the car went over the poor pig dhere was little left for me or anywan else to go over except wid a knife an fork.

Aunt Judy.  Why didn’t Mr Broadbent stop the car when the pig was gone?

Doran.  Stop the car!  He might as well ha thried to stop a mad bull.  First it went wan way an made fireworks o Molly Ryan’s crockery stall; an dhen it slewed round an ripped ten fut o wall out o the corner o the pound. [With enormous enjoyment] Begob, it just tore the town in two and sent the whole dam market to blazes. [Nora offended, rises].

Keegan [indignantly].  Sir!

Doran [quickly].  Savin your presence, Miss Reilly, and Misther
Keegan’s.  Dhere!  I won’t say anuddher word.

Nora.  I’m surprised at you, Mr Doran. [She sits down again].

Doran [refectively].  He has the divil’s own luck, that Englishman, annyway; for when they picked him up he hadn’t a scratch on him, barrn hwat the pig did to his cloes.  Patsy had two fingers out o jynt; but the smith pulled them sthraight for him.  Oh, you never heard such a hullaballoo as there was.  There was Molly, cryin Me chaney, me beautyful chaney! n oul Mat shoutin Me pig, me pig! n the polus takin the number o the car, n not a man in the town able to speak for laughin—­

Keegan [with intense emphasis].  It is hell:  it is hell.  Nowhere else could such a scene be a burst of happiness for the people.

Cornelius comes in hastily from the garden, pushing his way through the little crowd.

Cornelius.  Whisht your laughin, boys!  Here he is. [He puts his hat on the sideboard, and goes to the fireplace, where he posts himself with his back to the chimneypiece].

Aunt Judy.  Remember your behavior, now.

Everybody becomes silent, solemn, concerned, sympathetic.  Broadbent enters, roiled and disordered as to his motoring coat:  immensely important and serious as to himself.  He makes his way to the end of the table nearest the garden door, whilst Larry, who accompanies him, throws his motoring coat on the sofa bed, and sits down, watching the proceedings.

Broadbent [taking off his leather cap with dignity and placing it on the table].  I hope you have not been anxious about me.

Aunt Judy.  Deedn we have, Mr Broadbent.  It’s a mercy you weren’t killed.

Doran.  Kilt!  It’s a mercy dheres two bones of you left houldin together.  How dijjescape at all at all?  Well, I never thought I’d be so glad to see you safe and sound again.  Not a man in the town would say less [murmurs of kindly assent].  Won’t you come down to Doolan’s and have a dhrop o brandy to take the shock off?

Broadbent.  You’re all really too kind; but the shock has quite passed off.