Mrs. Mooney, the daughter of a butcher, opened her own butcher shop but was unable to keep up the business because of her financially insolvent and violent husband. They separated, and she and her two children opened a boarding house instead. Mrs. Mooney’s daughter Polly is 19 years old and very flirtatious. Soon, Mrs. Mooney discerns an affair between Polly and a lodger named Mr. Doran. She allows it to continue until they sleep together, and then she intervenes, demanding that Mr. Doran marry her daughter. Mrs. Mooney knows she has social expectations on her side as “an outraged mother” (62) whose hospitality has been taken advantage of. She also knows that, as an employee of a Catholic merchant, a scandal could cost Mr. Doran his job. Mr. Doran considers his predicament, and Polly comes to see him in distress. Mr. Doran believes he was seduced by her and that a life together is not the same as sexual attraction. Mr. Doran comforts her in her distress before Mrs. Mooney summons him downstairs. He passes Polly’s brother Jack, who is known to be protective of his sister. Meanwhile, Polly collects herself and waits to be called down.