CARMODY. I will so. (He goes out.)
GAYNOR (after a pause in which he is studying Nicholls). Do you happen to be any relative to the Albert Nicholls who is superintendent over at the Downs Manufacturing Company?
NICHOLLS (smiling). He's sort of a near relative—my father.
GAYNOR. Ah, yes?
NICHOLLS (with satisfaction). I work for the Downs Company myself—bookkeeper——
GAYNOR. Miss Carmody—the sick girl upstairs—she had a position there also, didn't she, before her mother died?
NICHOLLS. Yes. She had a job as stenographer for a time. When she graduated from the business college course—I was already working at the Downs—and through my father's influence—you understand. (Gaynor nods curtly.) She was getting on finely, too, and liked the work. It's too bad—her mother's death, I mean—forcing her to give it up and come home to take care of those kids.
GAYNOR. It's a damn shame. That's the main cause of her breakdown.
NICHOLLS (frowning). I've noticed she's been looking badly lately. So that's the trouble? Well, it's all her father's fault—and her own, too, because whenever I raised a kick about his making a slave of her, she always defended him. (With a quick glance at the Doctor—in a confidential tone.) Between us, Carmody's as selfish as they make 'em, if you want my opinion.
GAYNOR (with a growl). He's a hog on two legs.