[The Head enters, and the Sergeant follows. Mrs. Cotter opens the street door and the Constable enters.
CONSTABLE (sarcastically)
Thanks very much for openin' the door, ma'am.
MRS. COTTER I'm sorry for keepin' you waitin', Constable. I was sayin' me prayers up-stairs before goin' to bed.
CONSTABLE
If I had known that, I wouldn't have disturbed you.
I hope you said one for me.
MRS. COTTER
Of course I did. I always ses a prayer for the police.
CONSTABLE An' right too, ma'am, for 'tis little time we have for prayin'. There's no rest for a man once he joins the Force. Whin y're not kept busy thinkin' o' one thing, y're kept busy thinkin' o' somethin' else.
MRS. COTTER
Thinkin' is worse than workin'.
CONSTABLE A hundred times. (Looking at his watch) 'Tis a long time since first Mass this mornin'. Saturday! Sunday! Monday! 'Tis all the same whin y're in the Force. On y'er feet all day, an' kep' awake be the childer all night. An' whin pay day comes, all y'er hard earnin's goes to keep the wolf from the door.
MRS. COTTER
God help us!
CONSTABLE
Say what ye will, but life is an awful bother.