Дублінці
A Mother
TheywereallfriendsoftheKearneys—musicalfriendsorNationalistfriends;and,whentheyhadplayedeverylittlecounterofgossip,theyshookhandswithoneanotheralltogether,laughingatthecrossingofsomanhands,andsaidgood-byetooneanotherinIrish.SoonthenameofMissKathleenKearneybegantobeheardoftenonpeople’slips.Peoplesaidthatshewasverycleveratmusicandaverynicegirland,moreover,thatshewasabelieverinthelanguagemovement.Mrs.Kearneywaswellcontentatthis.ThereforeshewasnotsurprisedwhenonedayMr.HolohancametoherandproposedthatherdaughtershouldbetheaccompanistataseriesoffourgrandconcertswhichhisSocietywasgoingtogiveintheAntientConcertRooms.Shebroughthimintothedrawing-room,madehimsitdownandbroughtoutthedecanterandthesilverbiscuit-barrel.Sheenteredheartandsoulintothedetailsoftheenterprise,advisedanddissuaded:andfinallyacontractwasdrawnupbywhichKathleenwastoreceiveeightguineasforherservicesasaccompanistatthefourgrandconcerts.
AsMr.Holohanwasanoviceinsuchdelicatemattersasthewordingofbillsandthedisposingofitemsforaprogramme,Mrs.Kearneyhelpedhim.Shehadtact.Sheknewwhatartistesshouldgointocapitalsandwhatartistesshouldgointosmalltype.SheknewthatthefirsttenorwouldnotliketocomeonafterMr.Meade’scomicturn.Tokeeptheaudiencecontinuallydivertedsheslippedthedoubtfulitemsinbetweentheoldfavourites.Mr.
