Exiles

Contents

Characters

RICHARD ROWAN, a writer.
BERTHA.
ARCHIE, their son, aged eight years.
ROBERT HAND, journalist.
BEATRICE JUSTICE, his cousin, music teacher.
BRIGID, an old servant of the Rowan family.
A FISHWOMAN.

At Merrion and Ranelagh, suburbs of Dublin.
Summer of the year 1912.

First Act

The drawingroom in Richard Rowan’s house at Merrion, a suburb of Dublin. Onthe right, forward, a fireplace, before which stands a low screen. Over themantelpiece a giltframed glass. Further back in the right wall, folding doorsleading to the parlour and kitchen. In the wall at the back to the right asmall door leading to a study. Left of this a sideboard. On the wall above thesideboard a framed crayon drawing of a young man. More to the left double doorswith glass panels leading out to the garden. In the wall at the left a windowlooking out on the road. Forward in the same wall a door leading to the halland the upper part of the house. Between the window and door a lady’s davenportstands against the wall. Near it a wicker chair. In the centre of the room around table. Chairs, upholstered in faded green plush, stand round the table.To the right, forward, a smaller table with a smoking service on it. Near it aneasychair and a lounge. Cocoanut mats lie before the fireplace, beside thelounge and before the doors. The floor is of stained planking. The double doorsat the back and the folding doors at the right have lace curtains, which aredrawn halfway. The lower sash of the window is lifted and the window is hungwith heavy green plush curtains. The blind is pulled down to the edge of thelifted lower sash. It is a warm afternoon in June and the room is filled withsoft sunlight which is waning.

[Brigid and BeatriceJustice come in by the door on the left.Brigid is an elderly woman, lowsized, withirongrey hair. Beatrice Justice is aslender dark young woman of 27 years. She wears a wellmade navyblue costume andan elegant simply trimmed black straw hat, and carries a small portfolioshapedhandbag.]

BRIGID.
The mistress and Master Archie is at the bath. They never expected you. Did yousend word you were back, Miss Justice?

BEATRICE.
No. I arrived just now.

BRIGID.
[Points to the easychair.] Sit down and I’ll tell the master you arehere. Were you long in the train?

BEATRICE.
[Sitting down.] Since morning.

BRIGID.
Master Archie got your postcard with the views of Youghal. You’re tired out,I’m sure.

BEATRICE.
O, no. [She coughs rather nervously.] Did he practise the piano while Iwas away?

BRIGID.
[Laughs heartily.] Practice, how are you! Is it Master Archie? He is madafter the milkman’s horse now. Had you nice weather down there, Miss Justice?

BEATRICE.
Rather wet, I think.

BRIGID.
[Sympathetica