MRS O'FLAHERTY [soothing him]. No, darlint: they only knocked off
half a crown. I put up with it because I've got the old age
pension; and they know very well I'm only sixty-two; so I've the
better of them by half a crown a week anyhow.

O'FLAHERTY. It's a queer way of doing business. If they'd tell
you straight out what they was going to give you, you wouldn't
mind; but if there was twenty ways of telling the truth and only
one way of telling a lie, the Government would find it out. It's
in the nature of governments to tell lies.

Teresa Driscoll, a parlor maid, comes from the house,

TERESA. You're to come up to the drawing-room to have your tea,
Mrs. O'Flaherty.

MRS O'FLAHERTY. Mind you have a sup of good black tea for me in
the kitchen afterwards, acushla. That washy drawing-room tea will
give me the wind if I leave it on my stomach. [She goes into the
house, leaving the two young people alone together.]

O'FLAHERTY. Is that yourself, Tessie? And how are you?

TERESA. Nicely, thank you. And how's yourself?

O'FLAHERTY. Finely, thank God. [He produces a gold chain.] Look
what I've brought you, Tessie.

TERESA [shrinking]. Sure I don't like to touch it, Denny. Did you
take it off a dead man?