Дублінці
A Mother
Shehadsparedneithertroublenorexpenseandthiswashowshewasrepaid.
Theythoughttheyhadonlyagirltodealwithandthattherefore,theycouldrideroughshodoverher.Butshewouldshowthemtheirmistake.Theywouldn’thavedaredtohavetreatedherlikethatifshehadbeenaman.Butshewouldseethatherdaughtergotherrights:shewouldn’tbefooled.Iftheydidn’tpayhertothelastfarthingshewouldmakeDublinring.Ofcourseshewassorryforthesakeoftheartistes.Butwhatelsecouldshedo?Sheappealedtothesecondtenorwhosaidhethoughtshehadnotbeenwelltreated.ThensheappealedtoMissHealy.MissHealywantedtojointheothergroupbutshedidnotliketodosobecauseshewasagreatfriendofKathleen’sandtheKearneyshadofteninvitedhertotheirhouse.
AssoonasthefirstpartwasendedMr.FitzpatrickandMr.HolohanwentovertoMrs.KearneyandtoldherthattheotherfourguineaswouldbepaidafterthecommitteemeetingonthefollowingTuesdayandthat,incaseherdaughterdidnotplayforthesecondpart,thecommitteewouldconsiderthecontractbrokenandwouldpaynothing.
“Ihaven’tseenanycommittee,”saidMrs.Kearneyangrily.“Mydaughterhashercontract.Shewillgetfourpoundseightintoherhandorafootshewon’tputonthatplatform.”
“I’msurprisedatyou,Mrs.Kearney,”saidMr.Holohan.“Ineverthoughtyouwouldtreatusthisway.
