The Straw Part 5

EILEEN (_confused_). I--I didn't know----

MISS GILPIN (_smiling_). Of course you didn't. And now if you'll come with me I'll show you your room. We'll have a little chat there and I can explain all the other important rules in a second. The gentlemen can make themselves comfortable in the meantime. We won't be gone more than a moment.

NICHOLLS (_feeling called upon to say something_). Yes--we'll wait--certainly, we're all right.

(Carmody _remains silent, glowering at the fire._ Nicholls _sits down beside him._ Miss Gilpin _and_ Eileen _go out._ Murray _switches his chair so that he can observe the two men out of the corner of his eye while pretending to be absorbed in his book._)

CARMODY (_looking about s.h.i.+ftily and reaching for the inside pocket of his overcoat_). I'll be havin' a nip now we're alone, and that cacklin'

hen gone. I'm feelin' sick in the pit of the stomach. (_He pulls out a pint flask, half full._)

NICHOLLS (_excitedly_). For G.o.d's sake, don't! Put that bottle away!

(_In a whisper._) Don't you see that fellow in the chair there?

CARMODY (_taking a big drink_). Ah, I'm not mindin' a man at all. Sure I'll bet it's himself would be likin' a taste of the same. (_He appears about to get up and invite_ Murray _to join him, but_ Nicholls _grabs his arm._)

NICHOLLS (_with a frightened look at_ Murray _who appears buried in his book_). Stop it, you---- Don't you know he's probably a patient and they don't allow them----

CARMODY (_scornfully_). A sick one, and him readin' a book like a dead man without a civil word out of him! It's queer they'd be allowin' the sick ones to read books, when I'll bet it's the same lazy readin' in the house brought the half of them down with the consumption itself.

(_Raising his voice._) I'm thinking this whole shebang is a big, thievin' fake--and I've always thought so.

NICHOLLS (_furiously_). Put that bottle away, d.a.m.n it! And don't shout.

You're not in a public-house.

CARMODY (_with provoking calm_). I'll put it back when I'm ready, not before, and no lip from you!

NICHOLLS (_with fierce disgust_). You're drunk now. It's disgusting.

CARMODY (_raging_). Drunk, am I? Is it the like of a young jacka.s.s like you that's still wet behind the ears to be tellin' me I'm drunk?

NICHOLLS (_half-rising from his chair--pleadingly_). For heaven's sake, Mr. Carmody, remember where we are and don't raise any rumpus. What'll Eileen say? Do you want to make trouble for her at the start?

CARMODY (_puts the bottle away hastily, mumbling to himself--then glowers about the room scornfully with blinking eyes_). It's a grand hotel this is, I'm thinkin', for the rich to be takin' their ease, and not a hospital for the poor, but the poor has to pay for it.

NICHOLLS (_fearful of another outbreak_). Sss.h.!.+

CARMODY. Don't be shs.h.i.+n' at me? I'm tellin' you the truth. I'd make Eileen come back out of this to-night if that divil of a doctor didn't have me by the throat.

NICHOLLS (_glancing at him nervously_). I wonder how soon she'll be back? The carriage is waiting for us. We'll have to hurry to make that last train back. If we miss it--it means two hours on the d.a.m.n tram.

CARMODY (_angrily_). Is it anxious to get out of her sight you are, and you engaged to marry and pretendin' to love her? (Nicholls _flushes guiltily._ Murray _p.r.i.c.ks up his ears and stares over at_ Nicholls.

_The latter meets his glance, scowls, and hurriedly averts his eyes._ Carmody _goes on accusingly._) Sure, it's no heart at all you have--and her your sweetheart for years--and her sick with the consumption--and you wild to run away from her and leave her alone.

NICHOLLS (_springing to his feet--furiously_). That's a----! (_He controls himself with an effort. His voice trembles._) You're not responsible for the idiotic things you're saying or I'd---- (_He turns away, seeking some escape from the old man's tongue._) I'll see if the man is still there with the carriage. (_He walks to the door on left and goes out._)

CARMODY (_following him with his eyes_). Go to h.e.l.l, for all I'm preventin'. You've got no guts of a man in you. (_He addresses_ Murray _with the good nature inspired by the flight of_ Nicholls.) Is it true you're one of the consumptives, young fellow?

MURRAY (_delighted by this speech--with a grin_). Yes, I'm one of them.

CARMODY. My name's Carmody. What's yours, then?

MURRAY. Murray.

CARMODY (_slapping his thigh_). Irish as Paddy's pig! (Murray _nods._ Carmody _brightens and grows confidential._) I'm glad to be knowin'

you're one of us. You can keep an eye on Eileen. That's my daughter that came with us. She's got consumption like yourself.

MURRAY. I'll be glad to do all I can.

CARMODY. Thanks to you--though it's a grand life she'll be havin' here from the fine look of the place. (_With whining self-pity._) It's me it's hard on, G.o.d help me, with four small children and me widowed, and havin' to hire a woman to come in and look after them and the house now that Eileen's sick; and payin' for her curin' in this place, and me with only a bit of money in the bank for my old age. That's hard, now, on a man, and who'll say it isn't?

MURRAY (_made uncomfortable by this confidence_). Hard luck always comes in bunches. (_To head off_ Carmody _who is about to give vent to more woe--quickly, with a glance towards the door from the hall._) If I'm not mistaken, here comes your daughter now.

CARMODY (_as_ Eileen _comes into the room_). I'll make you acquainted.

Eileen! (_She comes over to them, embarra.s.sed to find her father in his condition so chummy with a stranger._ Murray _rises to his feet._) This is Mr. Murray, Eileen. I want you to meet. He's Irish and he'll put you on to the ropes of the place. He's got the consumption, too, G.o.d pity him.

EILEEN (_distressed_). Oh, Father, how can you---- (_With a look at_ Murray _which pleads for her father._) I'm glad to meet you, Mr.

Murray.

MURRAY (_with a straight glance at her which is so frankly admiring that she flushes and drops her eyes_). I'm glad to meet you. (_The front door is opened and_ Nicholls _re-appears, s.h.i.+vering with the cold. He stares over at the others with ill-concealed irritation._)

CARMODY (_noticing him--with malicious satisfaction_). Oho, here you are again. (Nicholls _scowls and turns away._ Carmody _addresses his daughter with a sly wink at_ Murray.) I thought Fred was slidin' down hill to the train with his head bare to the frost, and him so desperate hurried to get away from here. Look at the knees on him clappin'

together with the cold, and with the great fear that's in him he'll be catchin' a sickness in this place! (Nicholls, _his guilty conscience stabbed to the quick, turns pale with impotent rage._)

EILEEN (_remonstrating pitifully_). Father! Please! (_She hurries over to_ Nicholls.) Oh, please don't mind him, Fred. You know what he is when he's drinking. He doesn't mean a word he's saying.

NICHOLLS (_thickly_). That's all right--for you to say. But I won't forget--I'm sick and tired standing for--I'm not used to--such people.

EILEEN (_shrinking from him_). Fred!

NICHOLLS (_with a furious glance at_ Murray). Before that cheap slob, too--letting him know everything!

EILEEN (_faintly_). He seems--very nice.

NICHOLLS. You've got your eyes set on him already, have you? Leave it to you! No fear of your not having a good time of it out here!

EILEEN. Fred!

NICHOLLS. Well, go ahead if you want to. I don't care. I'll---- (_Startled by the look of anguish which comes over her face, he hastily swallows his words. He takes out his watch--fiercely._) We'll miss that train, d.a.m.n it!

EILEEN (_in a stricken tone_). Oh, Fred! (_Then forcing back her tears she calls to_ Carmody _in a strained voice._) Father! You'll have to go now. Miss Gilpin told me to tell you you'd have to go right away to catch the train.

CARMODY (_shaking hands with_ Murray). I'll be goin'. Keep your eye on her. I'll be out soon to see her and you and me'll have another talk.

MURRAY. Glad to. Good-bye for the present. (_He walks to windows on the far right, turning his back considerately on their leave-taking._)

EILEEN (_comes to_ Carmody _and hangs on his arm as they proceed to the door_). Be sure and kiss them all for me--Billy and Tom and Nora and little Mary--and bring them out to see me as soon as you can, father, please! And you come often, too, won't you? And don't forget to tell Mrs. Brennan all the directions I gave you coming out on the train. I told her, but she mightn't remember--about Mary's bath--and to give Tom his----

CARMODY (_impatiently_). Hasn't she brought up brats of her own, and doesn't she know the way of it? Don't be worryin' now, like a fool.

EILEEN (_helplessly_). Never mind telling her, then. I'll write to her.