Shure now, Miss Carroll, you’re down on Pat for everythin’. He’s a good, lovin’ paw to Jimmie-boy he is—makin’ him happy and pleasin’ him like nobody else can. Everybody’s kind to Jimmie and nobody’s kind to Pat—and they’re just alike—two childer they are—both on ’em foolish and lovin’ and helpless like, and I love ’em both. Oh, I love ’em! If you’d hear ’em together an’ you wid your eyes shut, it’s hard set you’d be to say which was the man and which was the child. Sometimes I can’t ’tind to me washin’ fer listenin’ to the funny talk o’ the two o’ them. Wan time they’ll be settin’ on the high moon for a throne, with the little shtars to wait on ’em and shootin’-shtars to run errands; another, they’ll be swimmin’ along through the deep green sea, a-passin’ the time o’ day an’ makin’ little jokes to the fishes. Ah, ye ought to hear ’em go on! MISS CARROLL. Well, I’m glad he amuses Jimmie when he’s at home, but he ought to be at work, a great strong man like him! He needs a good lesson, Pat does. Good-bye, Jimmie-boy. Be sure and have the new words learned. [_She gives him a little pat, and with a wave of the hand goes out. NORA is unheeding JIMMIE’S call of “Maw.” JIMMIE has not listened to the conversation between NORA and MISS CARROLL._] JIMMIE. [_Raising himself and looking around._] Maw! She said she’d try and git me a bran’-new suit. Say, Maw, d’ye think she’ll pay out her money fer it? I don’t want her to do that. She just gets wages same as Paw. She told me how it was. Say, Maw, why don’t Paw bring home no more wages? NORA. [_Coming to him, then taking sudden decision._] Jimmie-boy, Maw’s goin’ out. [_Hastily gets out a very queer bonnet and mantle while she speaks and arrays herself, putting bonnet on crooked to partially conceal bandage._] You just lie quiet there like a good boy, an’ a lamb’s tail couldn’t whisk itself three times till I’ll be back again. I’m not goin’ to be a fool softy no longer, and Paw’ll bring home some more wages afther that lesson he’s needin’. Are ye all right now? Ye won’t be needin’ anything? [_Pats him on the head, then leans over and kisses him fiercely, protectingly._] JIMMIE. Where you goin’? NORA. I’m goin’ to git the law to help us if it can. [_She goes out and bangs the door._] [_JIMMIE, left alone, is very bored and listless. He turns over the book, then lets it fall, twists himself wearily. Suddenly his whole face brightens happily at a step outside. PAT’S gay whistle is heard coming up-stairs._] PAT. [_Entering._] Hi, Jimmie-boy! There’s the great lad for ye! All shtuffed full and a-runnin’ over he is wid fine learnin’ out of books. Did ye ever see the loike o’ him? Sittin’ up dressed like folks! Faith, it’s the proud Pat I am this day! Let’s see what great thing about the wide worrld is a-hidin’ itself inside o’ this yere. [_Picks up book._] JIMMIE. I’m tired o’ that. Tell me a story. PAT.