_Mr. Carv._ Certainly, certainly; and you may depend on me. I shall speak my decided opinion; and I fancy McBride has sense enough to be ruled by me. _O’Bla._ I am sure he has--only there’s a Randal Rooney, a wild young man, in the case. I’d be sorry the girl was thrown I away upon Randal. _Mr. Carv._ She has too much sense: the father will settle that, and I’ll settle the father. [_Mr. CARVER going._ _O’Bla._ (_following, aside_) And who has settled you? _Mr. Carv._ Don’t stir--don’t stir--men of business must be nailed to a spot--and I’m not ceremonious. [_Exit Mr. CARVER._ _O’Bla._ Pinned him by all that’s cliver! [_Exit O’BLANEY._ SCENE III. _Mrs. CARVER’S Dressing-room._ _Mrs. CARVER sitting at work.--BLOOMSBURY standing._ _Bloom._ Certainly, ma’am, what I always said was, that for the commonalty, there’s no getting out of an Irish cabin a girl fit to be about a lady such as you, Mrs. Carver, in the shape of a waiting-maid or waiting-maid’s assistant, on account they smell so of smoke, which is very distressing; but this Honor McBride seems a bettermost sort of girl, ma’am; if you can make up your mind to her _vice_. _Mrs. Carv._ Vice? _Bloom._ That is, vicious pronounciations in regard to their Irish brogues. _Mrs. Carv._ Is that all?--I am quite accustomed to _the accent_. _Bloom._ Then, ma’am, I declare now, I’ve been forced to stuff my _hears_ with cotton wool hever since I comed to Ireland. But this here Honor McBride has a mighty pretty _vice_, if you don’t take exceptions to a little nationality; nor she if not so smoke-dried: she’s really a nice, tidy-looking like girl considering. I’ve taken tea with the family often, and they live quite snug for Hirish. I’ll assure you, ma’am, quite bettermost people for Hibernians, as you always said, ma’am. _Mrs. Carv._ I have a regard for old Matthew, though he is something of a miser, I fear. _Bloom._ So, ma’am, shall I call the girl up, that we may see and talk to her? I think, ma’am, you’ll find she will do; and I reckon to keep her under my own eye and advice from morning till night: for when I seed the girl so willing to larn, I quite took a fancy to her, I own--as it were. _Mrs. Carv._ Well, Bloomsbury, let me see this Honor McBride. _Bloom._ (_calling_) One of you there! please call up Honor McBride. _Mrs. Carv._ She has been waiting a great while, I fear; I don’t like to keep people waiting. _Bloom._ (_watching for HONOR as she speaks_) Dear heart, ma’am, in this here country, people does love waiting for waiting’s sake, that’s sure--they got nothing else to do. Here, Honor--walk in, Honor,--rub your shoes always. _Enter HONOR, timidly._ _Mrs. Carv._ (_in an encouraging voice_) Come in, my good girl. _Bloom._ Oh! child, the door: the peoples never shut a door in, Ireland! Did not I warn you?--says I, “Come when you’re called--do as you’re bid--shut the door after you, and you’ll never be chid.” Now what did I tell you, child?