A Mother
[...]
When the Irish Revival
began to be appreciable Mrs Kearney determined to take advantage of her
daughters name and brought an Irish teacher to the house. Kathleen and
her sister sent Irish picture postcards to their friends and these friends
sent back other Irish picture postcards. On special Sundays, when Mr Kearney
went with his family to the pro-cathedral, a little crowd of people would
assemble after mass at the corner of Cathedral Street. They were all friends
of the Kearneys - musical friends or Nationalist friends, and, when they
had played every little counter of gossip, they shook hands with one another
all together, laughing at the crossing of so many hands, and said good-bye
to one another in Irish. Soon the name of Miss Kathleen Kearney began
to be heard often on peoples lips. People said that she was very clever
at music and a very nice girl and, moreover, that she was a believer in
the language movement. Mrs Kearney was well content at this. Therefore
she was not surprised when one day Mr Holohan came to her and proposed
that her daughter should be the accompanist at a series of four grand
concerts which his Society was going to give in the Ancient Concert Rooms.
She brought him into the drawing-room, made him sit down and brought out
the decanter and the silver biscuit-barrel. She entered heart and soul
into the details of the enterprise, advised and dissuaded: and finally
a contract was drawn up by which Kathleen was to receive eight guineas
for her services as accompanist at the four grand concerts.
[...]
While Mr Holohan
was entertaining the Freeman man Mrs Kearney was speaking so animatedly
to her husband that he had to ask her to lower her voice. The conversation
of the others in the dressing-room had become strained. Mr Bell, the first
item, stood ready with his music but the accompanist made no sign. Evidently
something was wrong. Mr Kearney looked straight before him, stroking his
beard, while Mrs Kearney spoke into Kathleens ear with subdued emphasis.
From the hall came sounds of encouragement, clapping and stamping of feet.
The first tenor and the baritone and Miss Healy stood together, waiting
tranquilly, but Mr Bells nerves were greatly agitated because he was
afraid the audience would think that he had come late.
[...]
In another corner
of the room were Mrs Kearney and her husband, Mr Bell, Miss Healy, and
the young lady who had to recite the patriotic piece. Mrs Kearney said
that the committee had treated her scandalously. She had spared neither
trouble nor expense and this was how she was repaid.
They thought they
had only a girl to deal with and that, therefore, they could ride roughshod
over her. But she would show them their mistake. They wouldnt have dared
to have treated her like that if she had been a man. But she would see
that her daughter got her rights: she wouldnt be fooled. If they didnt
pay her to the last farthing she would make Dublin ring. Of course she
was sorry for the sake of the artistes. But what else could she
do? She appealed to the second tenor, who said he thought she had not
been well treated. Then she appealed to Miss Healy. Miss Healy wanted
to join the other group, but she did not like to do so because she was
a great friend of Kathleens and the Kearneys had often invited her to
their house.
[...]
-I thought you were
a lady, said Mr Holohan, walking away from her abruptly.
After that Mrs Kearneys
conduct was condemned on all hands: everyone approved of what the committee
had done. She stood at the door, haggard with rage, arguing with her husband
and daughter, gesticulating with them. She waited until it was time for
the second part to begin in the hope that the secretaries would approach
her. But Miss Healy had kindly consented to play one or two accompaniments.
Mrs Kearney had to stand aside to allow the baritone and his accompanist
to pass up to the platform. She stood still for an instant like an angry
stone image and, when the first notes of the song struck her ear, she
caught up her daughters cloak and said to her husband:
-Get a cab!
He went out at once.
Mrs Kearney wrapped the cloak round her daughter and followed him. As
she passed through the doorway she stopped and glared into Mr Holohans
face.
-Im not done with
you yet, she said.
-But Im done with
you, said Mr Holohan.
Kathleen followed
her mother meekly. Mr Holohan began to pace up and down the room in order
to cool himself, for he felt his skin on fire.
-Thats a nice lady!
he said. O, shes a nice lady!
-You did the proper
thing, Holohan, said Mr OMadden Burke, poised upon his umbrella in approval.
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