MRS. S. Never mind the cups. I’ll get them out myself. Put on your apron. _PEGGY gets an apron and watches MRS. S. nervously. MRS. S. opens cupboard and takes out tea-things. Finally she peers into the lower part and drags out PEGGY’S hat, coat and suitcase._ PEGGY. O--h! MRS. S. [_very calm_]. What are these things doing here? PEGGY [_stiffly_]. I don’t know. MRS. S. When did you put them here? PEGGY. I don’t know. MRS. S. Perhaps they don’t belong to you? PEGGY. I don’t know. MRS. S. Since you don’t appear to know anything, I must find out for myself. [_Tries to open suitcase._] Where’s the key of this bag? PEGGY. I don’t know. MRS. S. [_flies into temper and tries to smash it_]. I’ll smash more than the bag before I’ve finished! There’ll be no runaway matches in my house.... _JOHN hurries in back, drying his face with an old towel._ JOHN. Here they come, Briget! The Royal Procession. James and the wife and Joseph. MRS. S. Go you and put on your hat and coat and meet them and put in the horse and throw that old towel out of your hand! JOHN. By the hedges, there’s a fine string of orders! [_Sees suitcase._] What’s this going on? MRS. S. Step on and do what you’re told! JOHN. Hokey tattler! [_Going._] As Tim says, it’s like a house of correction. [_Goes out back._] PEGGY. Father’s getting pretty sick of all this stupid badgering. And so am I. MRS. S. You are? PEGGY. I am. It makes life a burden. MRS. S. If these strangers weren’t coming in I’d give you and your father a lesson you wouldn’t forget.... _PROF. staggers in from room._ PROF. A drink of water, please. MRS. S. Ooooooooh! PROF. What’s the matter with you? Gum, you’d think you’d swallowed a tenpenny nail. [_To PEGGY_] A glass of water, pigeon. _MRS. S. grabs hold of PROF., runs him backward, and shoots him into the room. He is heard falling._ MRS. S. There’s a glass of water for you! [_She picks up hat, coat and suitcase, pitches them into the room, and locks the door._] Now! we’ll see who’s mistress here. From this night forth I’ll rule with an iron rod.... PEGGY. I hear someone coming in.... _MRS. S. smooths hair and dress and goes to back door. MRS. KILROY comes in. She is a big vain countrywoman, aged 45, and dressed in her very best._ MRS. S. W-ell, Mrs. Kilroy! At last! [_They kiss lightly._] It’s a shame to bring you in this way, but the parlour’s turned upside down for the Professor coming.... MRS. K. This is perfection. Nothing would do Mr. Kilroy but I should come over and see Peggy. He has raved all afternoon about Peggy. And for Joseph, I declare the boy’s half crazy. MRS. S. This is Peggy herself ... just in her apron. Peggy darling, this is Mrs. Kilroy. MRS. K. [_kissing PEGGY_]. Your girls are all very good-looking, Mrs. Scally, but Peggy’s the pick of the bunch.