Clay

           Thematronhadgivenherleavetogooutassoonasthewomen’steawasoverandMarialookedforwardtohereveningout.Thekitchenwasspickandspan:thecooksaidyoucouldseeyourselfinthebigcopperboilers.Thefirewasniceandbrightandononeoftheside-tableswerefourverybigbarmbracks.Thesebarmbracksseemeduncut;butifyouwentcloseryouwouldseethattheyhadbeencutintolongthickevenslicesandwerereadytobehandedroundattea.Mariahadcutthemherself.

           Mariawasavery,verysmallpersonindeedbutshehadaverylongnoseandaverylongchin.Shetalkedalittlethroughhernose,alwayssoothingly:“Yes,mydear,”and“No,mydear.”ShewasalwayssentforwhenthewomenquarrelledOvertheirtubsandalwayssucceededinmakingpeace.Onedaythematronhadsaidtoher:

           “Maria,youareaveritablepeace-maker!”

           Andthesub-matronandtwooftheBoardladieshadheardthecompliment.AndGingerMooneywasalwayssayingwhatshewouldn’tdotothedummywhohadchargeoftheironsifitwasn’tforMaria.EveryonewassofondofMaria.

           Thewomenwouldhavetheirteaatsixo’clockandshewouldbeabletogetawaybeforeseven.FromBallsbridgetothePillar,twentyminutes;fromthePillartoDrumcondra,twentyminutes;andtwentyminutestobuythethings.Shewouldbetherebeforeeight.ShetookoutherpursewiththesilverclaspsandreadagainthewordsAPresentfromBelfast.