o door, and shake hands with Ellen. The boys go out_.

ELLEN
Theaters! What do they know of theaters? And it's their like
will be enjoying them.

_Sally comes back. She is more hurried than before_.

SALLY
Ellen! Ellen! I have wonders to tell. Where is Cornelius, at
all? He's never here when you have wonders to tell.

ELLEN
What have you to tell?

SALLY
Oh, I don't know how I'll get it all out! Matt and father had
an _odious_ falling out, and it was about you. And Matt's going to
America; and he's to bring you with him. And Cornelius was saying
that if father found out about yourself and Matt--

ELLEN
Sally, Sally, take breath and tell it.

SALLY
Matt is going to America, like the others, and he's taking you
with him.

ELLEN
Sally, Sally, is it the truth you're telling?

SALLY
It is the truth. Honest as day, it is the truth.

ELLEN
And I thought I'd be content with a new house. Now we can go
away together. I can see what I longed to see. I have a chance of
knowing what is in me. _(She takes Sally's hands)_ It's great news
you've brought me. No one ever brought me such news before. Take
this little cross. You won't have a chance of getting fond of me
after all. _(She wears a cross at her throat; she breaks the string,
and gives it to Sally)_

SALLY
I don't know why I was so fervent to tell you. There's the
stool before me that myself and Cornelius were sitting on, and he
saying--_(She goes to the door)_ Here's Matt! Now we'll hear all
about it.

ELLEN
So soon; so soon. _(She goes to the mirror. After a pause,
turning to Sally)_ Go down the road a bit, when he comes in. Sally,
you have a simple mind; you might be saying a prayer that it will be
for the best.

SALLY
_(going to the door muttering)_ Go down the road a bit! 'Deed
and I will not till I know the whole ins and outs of it. Sure
I'm as much concerned in it as herself! "No man sees his house
afire but watches his rick," he was saying. Ah, there's few of
them could think of as fine a thing as that.

_Matt comes in._

MATT
Well, Sally, were you home lately?

SALLY
I was--leastways as far as the door. Father and oul' Martin were
discoursing.

MATT
I've given them something to discourse about. Maybe you'll be
treated better from this day. Sally.

SALLY
O Matt, I'm sorry.

_She goes out._

MATT
_(going to Ellen)_ It happened at last, Ellen; the height of the
quarrel came.

ELLEN
It was bound to come. I knew it would