Three Plays: The Fiddler's House, The Land, Thomas Muskerry Part 38

CRILLY And forty when the first child is born.

ANNA Oh, father, how can you say such a thing?

SCOLLARD I need only say this. Anna and myself were talking over affairs, and we came to the conclusion it would be best not to start with less than eighty pounds. _(He rises)_ I have to go down to the Board Room now, for there is a meeting of the Guardians. _(He goes towards door)_

CRILLY Won't you take a gla.s.s?

SCOLLARD No, thanks, Mr. Crilly. I never touch stimulants. Good day to you all.

_He goes out. Crofton Crilly goes after him_.

MRS. CRILLY Anna, you won't be deprived of your money.

ANNA Then what's the difficulty, mother?

MRS. CRILLY Let half of the money remain with us for a while.

ANNA But, mother, if I don't get all my money, what security have I that what's left will be good in six months or a year?

MRS. CRILLY I'll watch the money for you, Anna.

ANNA It's hard to keep a hold on money in a town where business is going down.

MRS. CRILLY Forty pounds will be given to you and forty pounds will be kept safe for you.

ANNA Forty pounds! There's not a small farmer comes into the shop but his daughter has more of a dowry than forty pounds.

MRS. CRILLY Think of all who marry without a dowry at all.

ANNA You wouldn't have me go to James Scollard without a dowry?

MRS. CRILLY Well, you know the way we're situated. If you insist on getting eighty pounds we'll have to make an overdraft on the bank, and, in the way business is, I don't know how we'll ever recover it.

ANNA There won't be much left out of eighty pounds when we get what suits us in furniture.

MRS. CRILLY I could let you have some furniture.

ANNA No, mother. We want to start in a way that is different from this house.

MRS. CRILLY You'll want all the money together?

ANNA All of it, mother.

MRS. CRILLY You'll have to get it so. But you're very hard, Anna.

ANNA This house would teach any one to look to themselves.

MRS. CRILLY Come upstairs. _(Anna goes, left)_ Three hundred pounds of a loss. Eighty pounds with that. I'm terrified when I think.

_(She goes after Anna)_

_Crofton Crilly comes in from shop. He takes gla.s.s of whisky from table, and sits down in arm chair_.

CRILLY I don't know what Marianne's to do at all. She has a shocking lot to contend with. Can anything be got from the old man, I wonder?

_Albert Crilly comes in by door, left_.

ALBERT Well, pa.

CRILLY Well, Albert. What's the news in the town, Albert?

ALBERT They say that you've backed a bill for Covey.

CRILLY If your mother hears that kind of talk she'll be vexed, Albert.

ALBERT But did you back the bill?

CRILLY For Heaven's sake, let me alone, Albert. Yes, I backed the bill.

ALBERT How much?

CRILLY You'll hear all about it from your mother.

ALBERT They say the bill was for three hundred.

CRILLY It was three or thereabouts.

ALBERT 'Pon my word, father, the mother will have to take out a mandamus against you.

CRILLY _(with parental dignity)_ Don't talk to me in that way, Sir.

ALBERT It's scandalous, really. I expect you've ruined the business.

CRILLY I hate the world and all its works and pomps.

ALBERT I believe you've done for the business. I'm going away.

CRILLY Then you've got the other appointment?

ALBERT Temporary clerks.h.i.+p in the Land Department. I wonder would the mother let me have the money for clothes?

CRILLY _(desperately)_ Don't mention it at all to her.

ALBERT I have a card from a Dublin tailor in my pocket. If I could pay him for one suit, I could get another on tick.

CRILLY I tell you not to talk to your mother about money. That fellow, Scollard, has put her out.

ALBERT How's that?

CRILLY Money again. Wants the whole of Anna's portion down. And Anna's backing him up, too. I don't know how your mother can stand it.