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felt he needn't have bothered because Maggie Ann, as everybody called her, was doing that all the time.
    His father had seen to the drinks, too, but the company seemed to pick only two kinds, beer or whisky, and they drank a lot of each, seeming to wash the food down with it.
    Although his father kept moving about the room from one
    guest to another, Daniel knew that he 35 wasn't at ease.
    They had been eating for more than an hour when Moira suggested they should move to the drawing-room. She did it, as he was finding out, as she seemingly did everything, on a laugh and with a funny quip; standing in the middle of the room, she called, `Would the remnants of the Conelly family of ancient lineage follow their daughter over the battlements to rest their bones in the luxury of the drawing-room.Àt this and amid joined laughter she held out her hand to his father and he led her down the room, out into the hall and across it to the drawing-room door, where, relinquishing her hand, he pressed her forward into the room, then stood aside while Sean Conelly and his wife, with their aged aunt between them, passed him with a smile. Then followed the dour Brian with his wife, and lastly Rory and his wife.
    But when Maggie Ann came up in the rear and intent on joining the family, he put out an arm to block her way and, inclining his head towards her, he said, `Would you please see to the coffee?`
    The smile slid from her face and she replied
    briefly, `They don't take coffee; tea's their drink when they can't get anything else.`
    He brought his jaws together for a moment before allowing himself to speak: then under his breath he said, Àll right, it will be tea. But listen one moment: you and I must have a talk, you understand?`
    She stared into his face. She understood, but she made no reply. Swinging her large body about, she made for the kitchen, pushing aside Daniel and Pattie who had been making their way towards the stairs but were stopped by their father's voice saying firmly, `Come!`
    Reluctantly, it seemed, they moved towards him, and as they went to pass him he stooped and quietly but firmly he said, `Remember your manners and who you are. We have guests in the house. You understand?`
    Neither of them answered nor indicated by a nod that they understood, but they went forward and into a buzz of laughter and chatter ...
    Daniel did not know how much later it was when the argument started, only that it was long after they had drunk tea and further glasses of whisky had been passed around. It started with the man called Brian saying, `When you used to come across to us,
    Hector, you gave us the impression that you 37 lived like landed gentry, and her there, our Moira, she did the same. Well, you've got the house all right, an' the settings for it, but where's the staff? I thought we'd be greeted to a dinner tonight and be meeting all your friends.`
    `Shut your mouth! Shut your mouth, Brian. It always gapes wide after the hard stuff. You should keep off it. Aye, you should that, unless it's under your own roof.`
    Àw, Dada, you said as much yourself.`
    Ì said no such thing, and I warn you, behave yourself. If you soil our name with your chatter, I'll cut your throat, begod! I will. With me own hand I'll do it.`
    `Huh! That'll be the day that you do anyt'ing with your own hand.Àll eyes were now turned on Brian's wife, for she too had imbibed of the hard stuff. Ànd why shouldn't my Brian open his mouth and tell them a t'ing or two over here? 'Tisn't much opportunity we get. And as you know, neither my Brian nor me was for Moira making this match, as long in the tooth as he is.`
    `How dare you! Mary Conelly.Ìt was
    Moira bristling: no smile on her face now; no laughter in her voice.
    However, immediately the attention of everyone in the room was caught by the old lady saying to Hector,
    `Did you meet Mr Palmerston, Hector?`
    `No, Aunt Mattie.` Good Lord, how old did she think he was?
    À great man. A great man. If anyone could have