1st Wrenboy:  The thing that I feel in me is hunger.  The thing I would wish to feel inside me is a good fistful of food.

1st Dowager Messenger:  They have been starved and stinted!  It would kill their Godmother on the moment if she was aware of that!

Guardian:  It is a part of their playgame.  They have everything they ask.

2nd Wrenboy:  I did not eat a farthing’s worth since yesterday.

3rd Wrenboy:  My teeth are rusty with the want of food!

4th Wrenboy:  I want some dinner!

5th Wrenboy:  We want something to eat!

Guardian:  Give them whatever you have ready for them, Gillie.

Servant:  (Giving the plates.) Here is the supper ye gave orders for this morning.

1st Wrenboy:  What is it at all?

Servant:  It is your choice thing.  Jellies and grapes from Spain.

2nd Wrenboy:  (Pushing away grapes) Berries!  I thought to get better than berries from the bush.

3rd Wrenboy:  There’s not much satisfaction in berries!

4th Wrenboy:  If it was a pig’s foot now; or as much as a potato with a bit of dripping.

5th Wrenboy:  (Looking at jelly.) What now is this?  It has like the appearance of frog spawn.

1st Wrenboy; Or the leavings of a fallen star.

5th Wrenboy:  Shivering it is and shaking.  It’s not natural! (Drops his plate.)

4th Wrenboy:  There is nothing here to satisfy our need.

2nd.  Dowager Messenger: I am nearly sorry for them, poor youngsters.  When they were but little toddlers they never behaved like that at home.

3rd Wrenboy:  It’s the starvingest place ever I was in!

1st Dowager Messenger:  There must be something in what they say.  They would not ask for food if they were not in need of it.  And the Guardian making so much talk about his table and his cooks.  We cannot go home and report that they have no learning and no food.

2nd Dowager Messenger:  As to learning I don’t mind.  But as to food, I would not wish to leave them without it for the night.  They might be as small as cats in the morning.

Guardian:  They are dreaming when they say they are in want of food.

1st Dowager Messenger:  It is a dream that will waken up their Godmother.

Servant:  Look, ma’am, at the table behind you, and you will see is this a scarce house!  That is what is set out for yourselves, ma’am, lobsters from Aughanish!  A fat turkey from the barley gardens!  A spiced and larded sucking pig!  Cakes and sweets and all sorts!  It is not the want of provision was ever brought against us up to this!

2nd Dowager Messenger:  If all this is for us, we would sooner give it up to those poor children.