Chapter 9 Summary

This chapter opens as the bartender kicks Mary out of the bar for a "disturbance." In the street a group of "urchins" await her appearance so they can taunt her. The children retreat as Mary charges after them. Mary eventually stumbles into the tenement building creating considerable noise. The noise prompts doors to open, and inhabitants to peer out. Mary approaches one door as it slams in her face. She demands the occupant to open the door for "a scrap" but the door remains closed. Jimmie comes home as his mother rants and raves in the hallway. He tells her to "shut yer face, an' come home, yeh old fool!" (156) She resists his orders to go home and they begin to fight in the hallway outside their room. Maggie opens their door and Jimmie throws their mother into the room. Mary lies there...