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Colum, Padraic, 1881-1972

"Three Plays"


CRILLY
What's the matter, Marianne?
MRS. CRILLY
James Scollard came to me to-day, and he told me about
the things that are noticed.... The nuns notice them, the Guardians
notice them. He misses Mass. He is late on his rounds. He can't
check the stores that are coming into the house. He may get himself
into such trouble that he'll be dismissed with only an apology for a
pension, or with no pension at all.
CRILLY
I don't know what's to be done.
MRS. CRILLY
If he could be got to resign now James Scollard would
have a good chance of becoming Workhouse Master. He would marry Anna,
and we would still have some hand in the affairs of the House.
CRILLY
Yes, yes. I think that Scollard could make a place for himself.
ALBERT
The old man won't be anxious to retire.
MRS. CRILLY
Why shouldn't he retire when his time is up?
ALBERT
Well, here he is what's called a potentate. He won't care to
come down and live over Crilly's shop.
MRS. CRILLY
And where else would he live in the name of God?
ALBERT
He won't want to live with our crowd.
MRS. CRILLY
What crowd? The boys can be sent to school, you'll be on
your situation, and Anna will be away. _(She seats herself in the
armchair)_ I don't know what Albert means when he says that the
Master would not be content to live with us. It was always settled
that he would come to us when his service was over.


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