O'Cal. (_giving way a little_). I come to tell you of the cure we will be putting on him. I'm thinking it won't be to your taste and you short tempered with your trouble.
Mrs. G. Do you think I care what it is so it puts an end to this?
O'Cal. Is that the truth you're telling me?
Mrs. G. Truth! Bless the man. I'm at the bitter end.
O'Cal. (_briskly_). Then I'll be stepping out and bringing out my cure. I didn't fetch her in because I knew you quarrelled with her. (_He reaches the door and puts his hand to the latch._)
Mrs. G. Stop! Do you mean Margaret Shaweross?
O'Cal. Yes. (_He takes a step towards table. They speak across it._)
Mrs. G. That woman doesn't cross my threshold.
O'Cal. The sight of her _'_ull bring the life back into Peter.
O'Cal. You said you wouldn't care what I did.
O'Cal. (_coming round table_). No, and you called me all the names you could lay your tongue to when I came in last week.
Mrs. G. I thought you one of the lot that ruined Peter. I've told you I'm sorry for what I said.
O'Cal. Yes. You see it now. Why won't you see Miss Shaweross is a friend as well?
O'Cal. And can't you be mistaken about a woman just as much as a man?
Mrs. G. She never did Peter any good. She always thought too little of him.
O'Cal. (_pleadingly_). Give her a chance, Mrs. Garside, she loves him.
Mrs. G. She'd a queer way of showing it, then.
Mrs. G. (_hotly_). And don't I love him? If love's all he wants to put him right, won't his mother----
O'Cal. There's different kinds of love. Let her try hers.
[_O'Callagan goes to door, then turns suddenly suspicious._
O'Cal. You're not going to be rude to her?
Mrs. G. I'm going to give her her chance fair and square. Loves him, does she? We'll see if her love's good enough to do what my love can't, and I'll own I'm wrong about her. She'll get no second chance.
Mrs. G. Well, we'll see. Open the door and call her in.
[_Enter Margaret in a plain winter costume with a cheap fur round her neck._
O'Cal. (_in her ear as she passes him_). It's all right.
[_He closes door, Margaret crosses to Mrs. Garside._
Mar. (_anxiously--waiving ceremony_). How is he, Mrs. Garside?
Mrs. G. (_turning from her to O'Callagan_). Bring him down, Denis, you know the way. (_O'Callagan crosses and exit r. Mrs. Garside faces Margaret._) We'll understand each other first. You're here on sufferance. I've let you in same as I would a doctor, because O'Callagan thinks there's a chance you'll cure Peter. We're strangers till you've done it.