JOE. [Miserably.] Perhaps.

[There is silence for a moment; she has ceased to cry; suddenly she raises herself violently on her elbow.

MARY. You fool! You fool!

JOE. [Pleading.] Mary!

MARY. With your stupid ideas of honesty! What have they done for you, or me?

JOE. [Dropping his head again.] It's the kiddie, you know—her being a thief's daughter—

MARY. Is that worse than being the daughter of a pair of miserable beggars?

JOE. [Under his breath.] I suppose it is, somehow—

MARY. You'd rather she went hungry?

JOE. [Despairingly.] I don't know how it was—hearing his tramp up there—