MRS. S. Silence, John. Let me hear your plan, James. Whatever you say here is private. KILROY. I know that or I wouldn’t broach it. A public man has to know who he’s talking to. MRS. S. Very true. JOHN. Very, as Briget says. KILROY. We were speaking about my son Joseph. He’s twenty-one years old this morning. MRS. S. Bless him, I didn’t think he was near that. JOHN. Amen. I didn’t think he was sixteen. KILROY. Joseph comes into his legacy this morning--two thousand pounds. His aunt’s money that died ten years ago. MRS. S. I remember when she died. God guard him, it’s a lot of money. JOHN. Amen. As Briget says, it’s a mint. KILROY. Pay good attention both of you to what follows. Seems Joseph attended a Gaelic class last winter in somebody’s barn. MRS. S. In Cassidy’s barn. Peggy was there too. KILROY. The story goes that Joseph noticed Peggy there and became attracted by her. MRS. S. We never heard that before. JOHN. We did not indeed, sir, or we mightn’t have allowed it. MRS. S. Silence, John. I didn’t mean it in that sense. Peggy Scally’s good enough for any man in the parish to speak to. I only said we didn’t know that she and Joseph were friendly, and we didn’t. KILROY. Shake hands, Briget. [_They shake._] I agree with every word you say. Peggy Scally’s a match for the best man in this constituency--and that man happens to be my son Joseph. I hope that’s not bragging. JOHN. Aye! [_He is displeased._] MRS. S. [_smiling_]. That was very well put, James. I read all your speeches at the Council and you always hit the nail on the head. KILROY. Thanks, Mrs. Scally. I’m ten years at that Council Board, and that’s the first bit of criticism that ever entirely pleased me. You’re a brainy woman, Briget. JOHN. Aye! KILROY. Now, prepare yourselves for a shock. Joseph told his mother and me last night, plump and plain, that he means to marry Peggy Scally or die in the attempt. MRS. S. Goodness gracious me! That’s a bombshell.... [_letting herself go_]. Mercy save us again.... I’m dizzy.... John, d’ye hear what he says? JOHN. Aye! KILROY. At first his mother--and indeed myself--objected most strenuously. There’s no use in denying it. But he’s a Kilroy. He gave us till this morning to consent, or hand him out his two thousand pounds and he’d suit himself. That’s the sort of a boy Joseph is. MRS. S. [_on her dignity_]. May we ask, Mr. Kilroy, why you and your wife objected so strenuously to the match? JOHN. Hey! That’s a good question, Briget. Outrageous. KILROY. And a very natural question, too. But when I submit the reason I know you’ll appreciate it. Both his mother and myself understood that Peggy was engaged to Hugh O’Cahan. JOHN. Aye. [_Sulks again._] MRS. S. There never was anything serious between Peggy and Hugh O’Cahan, and I as strenuously objected to anything that might have been.... Is that true, John? JOHN. Aye!