Дублинцы
A Mother
Holohancalledtoseehereverydaytohaveheradviceonsomepoint.Shewasinvariablyfriendlyandadvising—homely,infact.Shepushedthedecantertowardshim,saying:
“Now,helpyourself,Mr.Holohan!”
Andwhilehewashelpinghimselfshesaid:
“Don’tbeafraid!Dontbeafraidofit!”
Everythingwentonsmoothly.Mrs.Kearneyboughtsomelovelyblush-pinkcharmeuseinBrownThomas’stoletintothefrontofKathleen’sdress.Itcostaprettypenny;butthereareoccasionswhenalittleexpenseisjustifiable.Shetookadozenoftwo-shillingticketsforthefinalconcertandsentthemtothosefriendswhocouldnotbetrustedtocomeotherwise.Sheforgotnothing,and,thankstoher,everythingthatwastobedonewasdone.
TheconcertsweretobeonWednesday,Thursday,FridayandSaturday.WhenMrs.KearneyarrivedwithherdaughterattheAntientConcertRoomsonWednesdaynightshedidnotlikethelookofthings.Afewyoungmen,wearingbrightbluebadgesintheircoats,stoodidleinthevestibule;noneofthemworeeveningdress.Shepassedbywithherdaughterandaquickglancethroughtheopendoorofthehallshowedherthecauseofthestewards’idleness.Atfirstshewonderedhadshemistakenthehour.No,itwastwentyminutestoeight.
Inthedressing-roombehindthestageshewasintroducedtothesecretaryoftheSociety,Mr.Fitzpatrick.Shesmiledandshookhishand.Hewasalittleman,withawhite,vacantface.
