A Mother

           MrHolohan,assistantsecretaryoftheEireAbuSociety,hadbeenwalkingupanddownDublinfornearlyamonth,withhishandsandpocketsfullofdirtypiecesofpaper,arrangingabouttheseriesofconcerts.HehadagamelegandforthishisfriendscalledhimHoppyHolohan.Hewalkedupanddownconstantly,stoodbythehouratstreetcornersarguingthepointandmadenotes;butintheenditwasMrs.Kearneywhoarrangedeverything.

           MissDevlinhadbecomeMrs.Kearneyoutofspite.Shehadbeeneducatedinahigh-classconvent,whereshehadlearnedFrenchandmusic.Asshewasnaturallypaleandunbendinginmannershemadefewfriendsatschool.Whenshecametotheageofmarriageshewassentouttomanyhouses,whereherplayingandivorymannersweremuchadmired.Shesatamidthechillycircleofheraccomplishments,waitingforsomesuitortobraveitandofferherabrilliantlife.Buttheyoungmenwhomshemetwereordinaryandshegavethemnoencouragement,tryingtoconsoleherromanticdesiresbyeatingagreatdealofTurkishDelightinsecret.However,whenshedrewnearthelimitandherfriendsbegantoloosentheirtonguesabouther,shesilencedthembymarryingMr.Kearney,whowasabootmakeronOrmondQuay.

           Hewasmucholderthanshe.Hisconversation,whichwasserious,tookplaceatintervalsinhisgreatbrownbeard.Afterthefirstyearofmarriedlife,Mrs.Kearneyperceivedthatsuchamanwouldwearbetterthanaromanticperson,butsheneverputherownromanticideasaway.