The Straw Part 16

CARMODY (_pretending ignorance_). About what?

MRS. BRENNAN. About what, indeed! Don't pretend you don't know. About our marryin' two weeks back, of course. What else?

CARMODY (_uncertainly_). Yes--I disremembered she didn't know. I'll have to tell her, surely.

MRS. BRENNAN (_flaring up_). You speak like you wouldn't. Is it shamed of me you are? Are you afraid of a slip of a girl? Well, then, I'm not!

I'll tell her to her face soon enough.

CARMODY (_angry in his turn--a.s.sertively_). You'll not, now! Keep your mouth out of this and your rough tongue! I tell you I'll tell her.

MRS. BRENNAN (_satisfied_). Let's be going out to her, then. (_They move towards the door to the porch._) And keep your eye on your watch.

We mustn't miss the train. Come with us, Mary, and remember to keep your mouth shut.

(_They go out on the porch and stand just outside the door waiting for_ Eileen _to notice them; but the girl in bed continues to stare into the woods, oblivious to their presence._)

MRS. BRENNAN (_nudging_ Carmody _with her elbow--in a harsh whisper_).

She don't see us. It's a dream she's in with her eyes open. Glory be, it's bad she's lookin'. The look on her face'd frighten you. Speak to her, you!

(Eileen _stirs uneasily as if this whisper had disturbed her unconsciously._)

CARMODY (_wetting his lips and clearing his throat huskily_). Eileen.

EILEEN (_startled, turns and stares at them with frightened eyes. After a pause she ventures uncertainly, as if she were not sure hut what these figures might be creatures of her dream_). Father. (_Her eyes shift to_ Mrs. Brennan's _face and she shudders._) Mrs. Brennan.

MRS. BRENNAN (_quickly--in a voice meant to be kindly_). Here we are, all of us, come to see you. How is it you're feelin' now, Eileen?

(_While she is talking she advances to the bedside, followed by_ Carmody, _and takes one of the sick girl's hands in hers._ Eileen _withdraws it as if stung and holds it out to her father._ Mrs.

Brennan's _face flushes angrily and she draws back from the bedside._)

CARMODY (_moved--with rough tenderness patting her hand_). Ah, Eileen, sure it's a sight for sore eyes to see you again! (_He bends down as if to kiss her, but, struck by a sudden fear, hesitates, straightens himself, and shamed by the understanding in_ Eileen's _eyes, grows red and stammers confusedly._) How are you now? Sure it's the picture of health you're lookin'.

(Eileen _sighs and turns her eyes away from him with a resigned sadness._)

MRS. BRENNAN. What are you standin' there for like a stick, Mary?

Haven't you a word to say to your sister?

EILEEN (_twisting her head around and seeing_ Mary _for the first time--with a glad cry_). Mary! I--why, I didn't see you before! Come here.

(Mary _approaches gingerly with apprehensive side glances at_ Mrs. Brennan, _who watches her grimly._ Eileen's _arms reach out for her hungrily. She grasps her about the waist and seems trying to press the unwilling child to her breast._)

MARY (_fidgeting nervously--suddenly in a frightened whine_). Let me go! (Eileen _releases her, looks at her face dazedly for a second, then falls back limply with a little moan and shuts her eyes._ Mary, _who has stepped back a pace, remains fixed there as if fascinated with fright by her sister's face. She stammers._) Eileen--you look so--so funny.

EILEEN (_without opening her eyes--in a dead voice_). You, too! I never thought you---- Go away, please.

MRS. BRENNAN (_with satisfaction_). Come here to me, Mary, and don't be botherin' your sister.

(Mary _avoids her step-mother, but retreats to the far end of the porch where she stands shrunk back against the wall, her eyes fixed on_ Eileen _with the same fascinated horror._)

CARMODY (_after an uncomfortable pause, forcing himself to speak_). Is the pain bad, Eileen?

EILEEN (_dully--without opening her eyes_). There's no pain. (_There is another pause--then she murmurs indifferently._) There are chairs in the room you can bring out if you want to sit down.

MRS. BRENNAN (_sharply_). We've not time to be sittin'. We've the train back to catch.

EILEEN (_in the same lifeless voice_). It's a disagreeable trip. I'm sorry you had to come.

CARMODY (_fighting against an oppression he cannot understand, bursts into a flood of words_). Don't be talking of the trip. Sure we're glad to take it to get a sight of you. It's three months since I've had a look at you, and I was anxious. Why haven't you written a line to us?

You could do that without trouble, surely. Don't you ever think of us at all any more? (_He waits for an answer, but_ Eileen _remains silent with her eyes closed._ Carmody _starts to walk up and down, talking with an air of desperation._) You're not asking a bit of news from home. I'm thinkin' the people out here have taken all the thought of us out of your head. We're all well, thank G.o.d. I've another good job on the streets from Murphy and one that'll last a long time, praise be!

I'm needin' it surely, with all the expenses--but no matter. Billy had a raise from his old skinflint of a boss a month back. He's gettin'

seven a week now and proud as a turkey. He was comin' out with us to-day, but he'd a date with his girl. Sure, he's got a girl now, the young bucko! What d'you think of him? It's old Malloy's girl he's after--the pop-eyed one with gla.s.ses, you remember--as ugly as a blind sheep, only he don't think so. He said to give you his love. (Eileen _stirs and sighs wearily, a frown appearing for an instant on her forehead._) And Tom and Nora was comin' out too, but Father Fitz had some doin's or other up to the school, and he told them to be there, so they wouldn't come with us, but they sent their love to you, too.

They're growin' so big you'd not know them. Tom's no good at the school. He's like Billy was. I've had to take the strap to him often.

He's always playin' hooky and roamin' the streets. And Nora. (_With pride._) There's the divil for you! Up to everything she is and no holdin' her high spirits. As pretty as a picture, and the smartest girl in her school, Father Fitz says. Am I lyin', Maggie?

MRS. BRENNAN (_grudgingly_). She's smart enough--and too free with her smartness.

CARMODY (_pleased_). Ah, don't be talkin'! She'll know more than the lot of us before she's grown even. (_He pauses in his walk and stares down at_ Eileen, _frowning._) Are you sick, Eileen, that you're keepin'

your eyes shut without a word out of you?

EILEEN (_wearily_). No. I'm tired, that's all.

CARMODY (_resuming his walk_). And who else is there, let me think? Oh, Mary--she's the same as ever, you can see for yourself.

EILEEN (_bitterly_). The same? Oh, no!

CARMODY. She's grown, you mean? I suppose. You'd notice, not seeing her so long?

(_He can think of nothing else to say, but walks up and down with a restless, uneasy expression._)

MRS. BRENNAN (_sharply_). What time is it gettin'?

CARMODY (_fumbles for his watch_). Half-past four, a bit after.

MRS. BRENNAN. We'll have to leave soon. It's a long jaunt down that hill in that buggy.

(_She catches his eye and makes violent signs to him to tell_ Eileen _what he has come to tell._)

CARMODY (_after an uncertain pause--clenching his fists and clearing his throat_). Eileen.

EILEEN. Yes.

CARMODY (_irritably_). Can't you open your eyes on me? It's like talkin' to myself I am.

EILEEN (_looking at him--dully_). What is it?

CARMODY (_stammering--avoiding her glance_). It's this, Eileen--me and Maggie--Mrs. Brennan, that is--we----

EILEEN (_without surprise_). You're going to marry her?