Prev | Current Page 119 | Next

Colum, Padraic, 1881-1972

"Three Plays"

I'll have to leave this without pension or prospect.
They'll send me away.
MRS. CRILLY
They had nothing against you before this.
MUSKERRY
I was spoken of as the pattern for the officials of Ireland.
MRS. CRILLY
If you resigned now--
MUSKERRY
Before this comes out. _(He looks for help)_ Marianne, it
would be like the blow to the struck ox if I lost my pension.
MRS. CRILLY
If you managed to get the pension you could pay the
Guardians back in a lump sum.
MUSKERRY
If I resigned now, where would I go to?
MRS. CRILLY
It was always understood that you would stay with us.
MUSKERRY
No, Marianne.
MRS. CRILLY
You'll have the place to yourself. The boys will be
going to school, and Albert will be away, too. Anna and myself will
look after you.
MUSKERRY
I could stay for a while.
MRS. CRILLY
Oh, well, if you have a better place to go--
MUSKERRY
Remember what I said, Marianne. I've worked for you and
yours, in season and out of season. There should be no more claims
on me.
MRS. CRILLY
There are no more claims on you.
MUSKERRY
I'm willing to leave in the shop what I put into the shop.
Let Anna know that it will come to her from me. I'll write to the
Guardians to-night and I'll send in my resignation. I venture to
think that they'll know their loss.
_Mrs. Crilly goes out quietly by corridor door_.
MUSKERRY
_(by himself)_ And I had made this place as fit for me as
the nest for the wren.


Pages:
107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131