CHRISTY No news, except that my mother is in the cottage, and is expecting you to-day.
MUSKERRY I'll be in the cottage to-day, Christy. I'm cleaning myself. (A sound of splashing and moving about) The Guardians were good to get the little house for me. I'd as lieve be there as in a mansion. There's about half an acre of land to the place, and I'll do work on the ground from time to time, for it's a good thing for a man to get the smell of the clay.
CHRISTY
And how are you in health, Mr. Muskerry?
MUSKERRY I'm very well in health. I was anointed, you know, and after that I mended miraculously.
CHRISTY
And what about the pension?
MUSKERRY I'm getting three hundred pounds. They asked me to realize the pension. I hope I have life enough before me. (He comes out. He has on trousers, coat, and starched shirt. The shirt is soiled and crushed)
MUSKERRY On Saturdays I'll do my marketing. I'll come into the town, and I'll buy the bit of meat for my dinner on Sunday. But what are you doing with this portmanteau, Christy?
CHRISTY
I'm going away myself.
MUSKERRY
To a situation, is it?
CHRISTY
To a situation in Dublin.