_Mrs. Crilly comes in_.
MRS. CRILLY
What has happened to you?
MUSKERRY
Felix Tournour knows about the coal, Marianne. He can
disgrace me before the world.
ANNA
And grandpapa wants to go before the Guardians and pay them
back the fifty pounds.
MRS. CRILLY
Wait until we consult Mr. Scollard.
_Anna goes out_.
MUSKERRY
No, Marianne. I'm not going to be a party to this any longer.
I'm going before the Guardians, and I'll pay them back their fifty
pounds.
MRS. CRILLY
Fifty pounds. From what place is fifty pounds to come so
easily?
MUSKERRY
I'll ask you to give me the fifty pounds, Marianne.
MRS. CRILLY
I'll do no such thing. Anna is getting married, and she
claims her fortune.
MUSKERRY
Anna getting married. This was kept from me. And who is
Anna getting married to?
MRS. CRILLY
To James Scollard.
MUSKERRY
To James Scollard. And so Anna is getting married to my
successor, James Scollard. My successor. How well I knew there was
some such scheme behind shifting me out of the Workhouse. And Anna
Crilly was against me all the time. Well, well, well. I'll remember
this.
MRS. CRILLY
I'm at great losses since you came here.
MUSKERRY
I'm at greater losses, Marianne.
MRS. CRILLY
What losses are you at?
MUSKERRY
The loss of my trust, the loss of my dignity, my
self-respect, and--
MRS. CRILLY
I think we did all we could for you.
MUSKERRY
I'm going out now to pay back the Guardians the sum due to
them from me. I want fifty pounds from you. I claim it, and I have a
right to claim it.
MRS. CRILLY
We have no money at all. Listen. Crofton Crilly backed a
bill for James Covey, and three hundred pounds has been taken from
our account.
MUSKERRY
Three hundred pounds!
MRS. CRILLY
Yes. Three hundred pounds.
MUSKERRY
He backed a bill for three hundred pounds. And do you think,
Marianne Crilly, there can be any luck, in a house where such a
thing could happen? I tell you there is no luck nor grace in your
house. _(He puts on his hat and goes to cupboard to get his stick. He
opens the cupboard. He turns round)_
MUSKERRY
_(greatly moved)_ My God, my God. I'm made cry at the
things that happen in this house.
MRS. CRILLY
What is it?
MUSKERRY
The good meat I brought in. There it is on the floor and
the cat mangling it. I'll go out of this house, and I'll never put
foot into it again.
MRS. CRILLY
And where will you go?
MUSKERRY
I'll go before the Board of Guardia
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