A Mother
James Joyce
Original text: Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #2814 UTF-8 snapshot; complete story “A Mother”
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Mr Holohan, assistant secretary of the _Eire Abu_ Society, had been walking up and down Dublin for nearly…
Miss Devlin had become Mrs Kearney out of spite. She had been educated in a high-class convent, where…
He was much older than she. His conversation, which was serious, took place at intervals in his great…
“My good man is packing us off to Skerries for a few weeks.”
If it was not Skerries it was Howth or Greystones.
When the Irish Revival began to be appreciable Mrs Kearney determined to take advantage of her daughter’s name…
As Mr Holohan was a novice in such delicate matters as the wording of bills and the disposing…
“Now, help yourself, Mr Holohan!”
And while he was helping himself she said:
“Don’t be afraid! Don’t be afraid of it!”
Everything went on smoothly. Mrs Kearney bought some lovely blush-pink charmeuse in Brown Thomas’s to let into the…
The concerts were to be on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. When Mrs Kearney arrived with her daughter…
In the dressing-room behind the stage she was introduced to the secretary of the Society, Mr Fitzpatrick. She…
“Well now, ladies and gentlemen. I suppose we’d better open the ball.”
Mrs Kearney rewarded his very flat final syllable with a quick stare of contempt, and then said to…
“Are you ready, dear?”
When she had an opportunity, she called Mr Holohan aside and asked him to tell her what it…
“And the _artistes_!” said Mrs Kearney. “Of course they are doing their best, but really they are not…
Mr Holohan admitted that the _artistes_ were no good but the Committee, he said, had decided to let…
The concert on Thursday night was better attended, but Mrs Kearney saw at once that the house was…
“But, of course, that doesn’t alter the contract,” she said. “The contract was for four concerts.”
Mr Holohan seemed to be in a hurry; he advised her to speak to Mr Fitzpatrick. Mrs Kearney…
“And who is the _Cometty_ pray?”
But she knew that it would not be ladylike to do that: so she was silent.
Little boys were sent out into the principal streets of Dublin early on Friday morning with bundles of…
The night of the grand concert came. Mrs Kearney, with her husband and daughter, arrived at the Antient…
“No, thank you!”
The little woman hoped they would have a good house. She looked out at the rain until the…
“Ah, well! We did our best, the dear knows.”
Mrs Kearney had to go back to the dressing-room.
The _artistes_ were arriving. The bass and the second tenor had already come. The bass, Mr Duggan, was…
“Are you in it too?”
“Yes,” said Mr Duggan.
Mr Bell laughed at his fellow-sufferer, held out his hand and said:
“Shake!”
Mrs Kearney passed by these two young men and went to the edge of the screen to view…
“I wonder where did they dig her up,” said Kathleen to Miss Healy. “I’m sure I never heard…
Miss Healy had to smile. Mr Holohan limped into the dressing-room at that moment and the two young…
Mrs Kearney brought her daughter over to them, and talked to them amiably. She wanted to be on…
“Mr Holohan, I want to speak to you for a moment,” she said.
They went down to a discreet part of the corridor. Mrs Kearney asked him when was her daughter…
“Why isn’t it your business?” asked Mrs Kearney. “Didn’t you yourself bring her the contract? Anyway, if it’s…
“You’d better speak to Mr Fitzpatrick,” said Mr Holohan distantly.
“I don’t know anything about Mr Fitzpatrick,” repeated Mrs Kearney. “I have my contract, and I intend to…
When she came back to the dressing-room her cheeks were slightly suffused. The room was lively. Two men…
“O’Madden Burke will write the notice,” he explained to Mr Holohan, “and I’ll see it in.”
“Thank you very much, Mr Hendrick,” said Mr Holohan, “you’ll see it in, I know. Now, won’t you…
“I don’t mind,” said Mr Hendrick.
The two men went along some tortuous passages and up a dark staircase and came to a secluded…
While Mr Holohan was entertaining the _Freeman_ man Mrs Kearney was speaking so animatedly to her husband that…
Mr Holohan and Mr O’Madden Burke came into the room. In a moment Mr Holohan perceived the hush.…
“She won’t go on. She must get her eight guineas.”
Mr Holohan pointed desperately towards the hall where the audience was clapping and stamping. He appealed to Mr…
“She won’t go on without her money.”
After a swift struggle of tongues Mr Holohan hobbled out in haste. The room was silent. When the…
“Have you seen Mrs Pat Campbell this week?”
The baritone had not seen her but he had been told that she was very fine. The conversation…
The noise in the auditorium had risen to a clamour when Mr Fitzpatrick burst into the room, followed…
“This is four shillings short.”
But Kathleen gathered in her skirt and said: _“Now, Mr Bell,”_ to the first item, who was shaking…
The first part of the concert was very successful except for Madam Glynn’s item. The poor lady sang…
All this time the dressing-room was a hive of excitement. In one corner were Mr Holohan, Mr Fitzpatrick,…
“I agree with Miss Beirne,” said Mr O’Madden Burke. “Pay her nothing.”
In another corner of the room were Mrs Kearney and her husband, Mr Bell, Miss Healy and the…
They thought they had only a girl to deal with and that, therefore, they could ride roughshod over…
As soon as the first part was ended Mr Fitzpatrick and Mr Holohan went over to Mrs Kearney…
“I haven’t seen any Committee,” said Mrs Kearney angrily. “My daughter has her contract. She will get four…
“I’m surprised at you, Mrs Kearney,” said Mr Holohan. “I never thought you would treat us this way.”
“And what way did you treat me?” asked Mrs Kearney.
Her face was inundated with an angry colour and she looked as if she would attack someone with…
“I’m asking for my rights,” she said.
“You might have some sense of decency,” said Mr Holohan.
“Might I, indeed?... And when I ask when my daughter is going to be paid I can’t get…
She tossed her head and assumed a haughty voice:
“You must speak to the secretary. It’s not my business. I’m a great fellow fol-the-diddle-I-do.”
“I thought you were a lady,” said Mr Holohan, walking away from her abruptly.
After that Mrs Kearney’s conduct was condemned on all hands: everyone approved of what the Committee had done.…
“Get a cab!”
He went out at once. Mrs Kearney wrapped the cloak round her daughter and followed him. As she…
“I’m not done with you yet,” she said.
“But I’m done with you,” said Mr Holohan.
Kathleen followed her mother meekly. Mr Holohan began to pace up and down the room, in order to…
“That’s a nice lady!” he said. “O, she’s a nice lady!”
“You did the proper thing, Holohan,” said Mr O’Madden Burke, poised upon his umbrella in approval.