Malachy, at the far end of the bar, turned pale, gave the great-
breasted ones a sickly smile, offered them a drink. They resisted the
smile and spurned the offer. Delia said,We dont know what class of a
tribe you come from in the North of Ireland.
Philomena said,There is a suspicion you might have Presbyterians
in your family, which would explain what you did to our cousin.
Jimmy said, Ah, now, ah, now. Tisnt his fault if theres Presbyteri-
ans in his family.
Delia said,You shuddup.
Tommy had to join in.What you did to that poor unfortunate girl
is a disgrace to the Irish race and you should be ashamed of yourself.
Och, I am, said Malachy. I am.
Nobody asked you to talk, said Philomena.You done enough dam-
age with your blather, so shut your yap.
And while your yap is shut, said Delia, were here to see you do the
right thing by our poor cousin,Angela Sheehan.
Malachy said,Och,indeed,indeed.The right thing is the right thing
and Id be glad to buy you all a drink while we have this little talk.
Take the drink, said Tommy, and shove it up your ass.
Philomena said, Our little cousin no sooner gets off the boat than
you are at her.We have morals in Limerick, you know, morals.Were not
like jackrabbits from Antrim, a place crawling with Presbyterians.
Jimmy said, He dont look like a Presbyterian.
You shuddup, said Delia.
Another thing we noticed, said Philomena.You have a very odd
manner.
Malachy smiled. I do?
You do, says Delia. I think tis one of the first things we noticed
about you, that odd manner, and it gives us a very uneasy feeling.
Tis that sneaky little Presbyterian smile, said Philomena.
Och, said Malachy, its just the trouble I have with my teeth.
Teeth or no teeth, odd manner or no odd manner, youre gonna
marry that girl, said Tommy. Up the middle aisle youre going.
Och, said Malachy, I wasnt planning to get married, you know.
Theres no work and I wouldnt be able to support . . .
Married is what youre going to be, said Delia.
Up the middle aisle, said Jimmy.
You shuddup, said Delia.
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