196                          THE ROPE
Annie—Luke!
Sweeney—[Crossing himself.] Glory be to God
—it's him!
Mary—[Hopping up and down wildly.] It's
Uncle Luke, Uncle Luke, Uncle Luke! [She runs
to her mother, who pushes her away angrily.]
Luke—[Regarding them both with an amused
grin.] Sure, it's Luke—back after five years of
bummin' round the rotten old earth in ships and
things. Paid off a week ago—had a bust-up—and
then took a notion to come out here—bummed my
way—and here I am. And you're both of you
tickled to death to see me, ain't yuh?—like hell!
[He laughs and walks over to Annie.] Don't yuh
even want to shake flippers with your dear, long-lost
brother, Annie? I remember you and me used to
git on so fine together—like hell!
Annie—[Giving him a venomous look of hatred.]
Keep your hands to yourself.
Luke—[Grinnmg.] You ain't changed, that's
sure—on'y yuh're homlier'n ever. [He turns to the
scowling Sweeney.]    How about you, brother Pat?
Sweeney—I'd not lower myself to take the hand
of a-------
Luke—[With a threat in his voice.] Easy goes
with that talk! I'm not so soft to lick as I was
when I was a kid; and don't forget it.
Annie—[To Maky, who is playing catch with a
silver  dollar which  she  has  had  clutched in  her