Why dont you go up to Belfast and see what the Orangemen will
do for you, ah?
I dont know, sir.
You dont know. Of course you dont know.Theres great ignorance
in the world.
He looks out at the people, I said theres great ignorance in the
world, and the people nod their heads and agree theres great igno-
rance in the world.
He whispers to Mr. Coffey and they look at Mam, they look at us.
He tells Mam at last that she can have the public assistance but if she
gets a single penny from her husband shes to drop all claims and give
the money back to the Dispensary. She promises she will and we leave.
We follow her to Kathleen OConnells shop to get tea and bread
and a few sods of turf for the fire.We climb the stairs to Italy and get
the fire going and its cozy when we have our tea.Were all very quiet,
even the baby Alphie, because we know what Mr. Kane did to our
mother.
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