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34

BLUEBELL M E A D O W
T T
T H E N she c m home i n the
W W
g f r o m r e a d i n g i n the

park that was a sort o l an island) the sergeant was w a i t i n g to a s k


her questions about the bullets. H e
had t w o oi t h e m i n the cupped palm
of h i s right h a n d , h o l d i n g the h a n d
l o w d o w n , secretively*. H i s left elbow
was o n the edge i d the white-scrubbed
kitchen table. T h e golden stripes on
his blue-black s k e w w e r e as b r i g h t as
the e v e n i n g sunshine on the old t o w n
outside. 11v was polite, a l m o s t apologetic, at first
H e said,
.1 hate to
bother yourself and your aunt a n d u n cle. B u t it w o u l d b> better for everybody's sake i f y o u told me where vou
got these things. Peopl< aren't supposed
to have t h e m . Least of a l l girls i n a
e

c< m\ i n< sola M i l . "

T h e r e w e n six of t h e m . T h e even i n g L o f t ) gave t h e m to her, sh< h;;d


looked at t h e m for a w h o l e hour, sitting at that table, half reading a book,
I ! r tncle and aunt wer< o u t at r
cinema, Sh< spread the bullets on the
table a n d moved t h e m about, m a k i n g designs a n,td shapes and patterns*
w i t h t h e m , j o i n i n g t h e m bi i m a g i n a n
l i n - s playing with t h e m as il th \
w T< d r a u g l r> or dominoes or pr< cious
stones. I t [ust wasn't possible that such
:

peninsula oi gravel a n d b r i g h t sand


guided the m o u n t a i n stream right out
harmless mute pieces o f metal could i n t o the heart of the c u r r e n t , C h i l d r e n
be im el to kill people. T h e n she; had played on the s a n d , d i g g i n g holes,
wearied of the m , h a d put t h e m a w : n i n b u i l d i n g castles, sending flat pebbles
a n o l d earthenware j u g on the m a n t e l - s k i m m i n g a n d dancing like wagtails
piece, and after a while she h a d for- upstream over the smooth w a t e r . One
d a w L o f t y was s u d d e n l y a m o n g the
gotten all about tin I D . A S she wrote v
just as i f be had come out
me f r o m I >e r o . i t t h i r t ) yt ars late r , t h \ child re n
were th oddest gifts, G o d k n e w , for a of the river, w h i c h is exactly w h a t he
b i d d o n , . His l o n g black waders still
dripped water. T h e ftshing rod he held
H I S is h o w the park w a s a son. in his h ft hand, while he expertl]
of an island. T h e river came out skimmed pebbles w i t h the right, dipped
and t w i d d l e d above h i m l i k e an aerial.
of deep water, lined and o v e r h u n g b)

tall beeches, a m i r o u n d a
right-angled
h a n d to hurst over a waterfall a n d
a salmon h a p - ( ) n the right bank,
a n d a bow th< f a l l , a sluice gate r e g u lated th< ( l o w of a m i l l r a c e . A h u n dred yards d o w n s t r e a m , the millrace
was carried in aqueduct over a r o u g h
m o u n t a i n stream that came d o w n to
join the river. B e t w e e n river a n d race
a n d m o u n t a i n stream was a t r i a n g u l a r
park of five or six acres, w i t h seats h\
the watersides and swings for c h i l d r e n .
H e r favorite seat was under a tall
nib r a n d rlostr to the c o r n e r where
the m o u n t a i n stream m e t th< river.
Because blm k lis _ o w in the woods o n
the far side of the millrace, the plao
was ailed B l u bell M e a d o w .
W h e n the riv< r was n o t i n flood, a

4 T \

1 he c a n v a s bag on his b a c k

was sod-

den a n d heavi , and h a d g r a s s , to keep


the fish fre sh, s t i c k i n g out of the m o u t h
of i t . O n e of the s m a l l boys was d o i n g
rifle d r i l l w i t h the shaft of his net. Sh<
had never spoken to L o f t ) , but she
k n e w v. ho he w a s .
Whe n sh< tired of reading, she c o u l d
look at the river a n d d r e a m , g o i n g
sailing w i t h the wate r. O r simple close
her ey- s. ( > r l< an b a c k and look up i n t o

the tall conifer, its branches always


restless, a n d m a k i n g sounds a n d g o i n g
u a\ f r o m her hk< a complicated sort
oi Spiral stairway. She h a d been told
that it was the easiest t n e i n the w o r l d
te; c l i m b , but no tree is all that easy i f
you're w e a r i n g n leg splint. She was
looking up into the tree, a n d w o n d e r ing, w h e n L o f t ) sat beside her. H i s
wade rs were now d r y and rubberv to
smell T h e r o d , the ne t, and the bag
were laid on the g r a s s , the heads of
t w o sad trout p r o t r u d i n g -still-life that
had been alive t h i s m o r n i n g . H e r u n cle, w h o kept greyhounds, argued that
fishing is m u c h more cruel than coursing
somewhere
i n the happy
river
were t r o u t thai were hooked and got
away, hooks n o w festering in their
h a h speckled bodies. S i r t h o u g h t a
lot a be tut things lik< that.
L o f t y sat for five minutes, almost,
be f u r he s a i d , " I ask, d A h a Q u i g l y
to te 1! you I w a s asking for y o u . "
" H e told me . "
" W h a t did \ ou say f "
" D i d he not v 11 y o u ? "
" H i said you said n o t h i n g , but I
d i d n ' t b< I k w h i m . "
" W h y not:
" Y o u had t o say s o m e t h i n g . "
l i I said a n y t h i n g , Aha- Q u i g L v
w o u l d tell th< w l eile t o w n . "
"1 dare sa\ he w o u l d . "
7 1

" H e ' s the greatest gossip and clashbag f r o m hell to O m a g h ^


" I didn't know.
" Y o u could have picked a more discreet ambassador.
5

Vli

till you why you can't plead not guilty. Because


you have zuilt written all over your face!*
3

The
i k

w o r d s impressed

him. I k said,

I t ' s a big name for Alec Q u i g l e y , I

brilliant achievement . . . Unflinching . . .

(hipping

. . . Explosive

. . . Long

Proclaims

overdue

failure

the

of

at its most illuminating


vision . . . Plain sfeech
civilization as a whale?*
Writing

. . . True

our

never t h o u g h t oi h i m as an ambassa-

first,

knee-deep a c r o s s a

P r o t e s t a n t s o u t of the w a y , and it t h a t

don

shallow b a r o f g r a v e l , a n d w a l k i n g o n

w o n ' t do, w e ' l l cut t h e m i n t w o , a n d

a c r o s s a green

send t h e m t o h e l l w i t h t h e i r r e d - w l t t t e -

'What,

then?

matchmaker?
the)

go-between?

A gooseberry?"

wen

both

then w a d i n g
hill

t o w a r d the d e e p s

above t h e falls. S h e l i k e d his l o n g stride,

laughing.

Lofty

was a b l o n d , t a l l , freckled f e l l o w , w i t h

and

the

above

r o d dipping

and

twiddling

h i m , a n d the laden, h a g

even

and-blue."
N u r s e r y rhymes,
She sat facing h e r aunt in the t r a i n ,

a pi asant l a u g h . He ask;-J her w o u l d

t h o u g h sir. k n e w it w a s full of d e a d ,

a n d her

sir

g a p i n g t r o u t . She

ware

Ike a trout.

I d love o n e .
l

* I

can

u l a r f e l l o w i n the t o w n . Yet she d i d n ' t

roll it in g r a s s for you a n d

get a hit of newspaper

in McCaslan's
J >

$1 op up at the w a t e r f a l l

V* ho w i l l I 1.11 m \ a u n t a n d uncle
gave m e the t r o u t ? "
and a trout

jumped

out at

vouA
left las h a g a n d r o d w h e r e they

beauty of L o u g h

w o m a n , said now a n d again, " G l o i y be

wasn't quite s u r e <d his name, h u t she

to. G o d for a l l his goodness*"

was a well-known

fisherman,

a jewel-

ler b y trade a n d h i g h l y respected- i n the


N o t that

Lofty

and

his p e o p l e

w e r t unrespectable,

Her

Then

ocean

a sheet of black p a r c e l l i n g paper

th< \

excursion

train

to

Bun-

just

once,

"You

Superior. N o end
were

hearing Lofty's
prejudices

an

said,

Lake

for ever)

to

i t . A s far as the h u m a n eye can see."

people,

witi

uncle

should se<

/ ~ \ N E Sunday i n the previous June,

hack

long

She said i t was an elder!) m a n a n d she

V - / in

H t came

They

the

E r n e , w h i c h has a n

wooded or p a s t o r a l ,

t r i a n g u l a r p a r k t o the s h o p at the a n waterfall.

her

all

island,

gk

tin

at

da) i n the year. 3 l e a - a u n t , a t i m i d little

Were, a n d w a l k e d f r o m the apex o f the


In

sat beside

looking

tell h e r aunt a n d uncle w h o exactly it

town.

lh

uncle

quiet,

w a s h a d m a d e h e r a gift of t h e t r o u t ,

described h i m so that t h e y ' d guess he

T e l l t h e m n o t h i n g . T e l l t h e m you
whistled

k n e w he w a s a pop-

about

and

a l l quiet,

the

who,

religion

with

sat across the

over-

w h o had

mother,

of

no
the

three

other

corridor

from

d o ran by the w e s t e r n sea, she had o v e r -

t h e m , She had a g o o d - n a t u r e d , c a r r y -

a n d wrapped up the t r o u t very g e n t l y ,

heard

i n g voice, a n d r e a l h

Jh

stories. A s a rule, Protestants d i d n ' t g o

to. She w a s saying, " I ' m a

west to B u n d o r a n but w e n t n o r t h

myself, M i s s u s dear, and

had l o n g , delicate hands, so freck-

k d that the) were a l m o s t t o t a l i s b r o w n ,


the

trout,

bloody

look; d sadly
Lofty

said,

mouth

up a t the
c

I'd

like

gaping,

t w o of t h e m ,

t o go out w i t h

you.
I m o f t e n o u t . Here "
So h.. laughed and
t r o u t , and
tht

falls,

went
casting

Jean's

telling

funny
to

P o r t r u s h . T h e sea w a s sectarian. W h a t
were th< w i l d waves saying?

A t Port-

about

the

young

fellow

sins and

t h e papishes every

her the

Protestant

toward

Or

at

heard

no

hut you m a s t

harry
handed

hank

have

to c o n f e s s i o n ,

Protestant

I mean

w h o w a n t to the priest to tell h i m his

one,

drive

t h e m u n d e r a n d bate t h e m asunder, the

tla.

disrespect

w a s fun to listen

r u s h : " S l e w t e r , s l a u g h t e r , holy w a t e r ,

o n upstream
from

mother

at

boys w i l l e a r n

Bundoran: " O n

D a y , jolly a n d gay, w e l l

more

told

women

h i m a story
i n it than

that

King

had
Solo-

the d r u m . "

m o n had i n the Bible, a n d the g o i n g s

St. Patrick's

on w e r e t e r r i b l e , a n d the priest says t o

kick a l l the

hint, ' Y o u n g m a n , a r e you m a r r i e d ? '

36

A n d th- y o u n g f< h o w s a \ $ back to h i m ,


dead serious a n d a l l , * N a w , F a t h e r ,

R E B E C C A ,

14

Squat, slant-e) . d , spe a k i n g in phrase-book phrases, the messeng

but 1 was twice i n F i n t o n a . ' "

says h

T h e t r a i n dived t h r o u g h a t u n a - I of

is yottr broth* r, and ttles d o w n on Ids heels

tall trees, T h e la ha vanished. Sunlight

to w a i t , muffled in flat, s u p p l e s k i n , ropt over las shoulde r. Y o u

flashing t h r o u g h leaves made h e r close


her i a es. E v e n b ouK on the t r a i n , ven

w a i t , i d a \ . t i n u , forget. Years,

her aunt, seeme


b< l a u g h i n g . , \
man w a s saying, " F i n t o n a always had

s ears, i a- m , sseng
w h o sits e >n the nest

id the one

i hit oi a name for w i l d w o n a n . '

whe brings home ot

nest s edge in Ins beak,

L o f t ) s m o t h e r s e a l , " J was born


th re myself, but i never noticed t h a t it

one

was - i l l that

Ne>bod)

good.

< \ er

. th< penguin

a t a t i m e , a n d a l s o l i k e the

one

w h o is l y i n g there, w a r m , w h o is going to b r e a k out soon:

told
be c o m i n g yourself: the messenger h g r o w i n g

me.**

s t r i n g , t o u g h feet for l a u d ,

a n d Strong w i n g s for the w a t e r , a n d l o n g

i 11;. epe ns her eyes, raid, the sunlight

butter-yellow

8kke rs d o w n o n h e r t h r o u g h th*
spiralling branche s of t h . great conife r.
L o f t ) is o n the. v e r i tip o f the

leather

eyebrows f o r l o o k s . A n d will, speak,

c a l m l y , w o r d s you already k n o w : ' t h r e a d , ' 'island,'

peninsula

o j sand and g r a v e l , d e m o n s t r a t i n g i u
casting to half a d o / - , n e l d l d r e n w h o

' m u s t : N o w , s l o w l y , j u s t while you lie on y o u r cot t h e r e , h a l f -

are t a i l o r - s q u a t t i n g art . a n d his feet. Sht


is a w a r e that he's s h o w i n g off to i m press her, and the t h o u g h t makes her
w a r m and pleased, read) to laugh at
a n y t h i n g . B u t to pretend that sheas u n -

a sunun

impressed

d o z i n g , not reading, w a t c h i n g the trees,


r, and a s u m m e r

w r i t i n g l o n g p a g e s , t e a r i n g t h e m up

l y i n g the re under the close A u g u s t w i n d o w , while at y o u r back


tia. w a t e r - l i t , d o t t e d lines of home s t a r t c o l o r i n g i n .
- J E A N

VALENTINE

she leans back a n d l o o k s up

i t o the t r
n w h i c h the s u n l i g h t ^s
reall) alive, creeping r o u n d the great
bolespots of light leaping tiki birds

ven crossed the millrace to w a l k i n t i

flash of
trucks, the gun
brass b u t t o n s a n d pipe-clayed belts. I n

f r o m one branch to a n o t h e r . She thinks


oj the o m b u tree that g r o w s on the
p a m p a s oi S o u t h A m e r i c a . I t s t r u n k
can be a m t h i n g up to a h u n d r e d feet
t h i c k . Phe w o o d is so soft that w h e n

bluebell woods, as couples of all age


customarily do. S i r i s n ' t sb\ of w e a k i n g s l o w l ) because of th* leg splint, but
she k n o w s that L o f t ) hasn't asked bet

those davs, it was o n l i the w i l d ones


w h o w e n t w i t h the soldiers,
" T h e y ' r e hell for s o l d i e r s ,
"Betwee n the t h
>l t h e m , t a e s '

because

take o n the G e r m a n s . "

c u t it r e t s like an overripe
melon
and is useless as firewood, d i e leaves
a r c targe, glossy, a n d deep green, like
laurel leaves
and a l s o bitter. But
they give shade f r o m the bare sun to

makes h e r feel

nam

most!) M o t h e r o f G* d b l u e . W h a t t h i
S : . i r r o n is for, ccept v a r i e u o f a sort,
she can't guess. L o f t y ' s r a t t l i n g , restless t a l k w o u l d lift M o t h , r T e r e s a out
d her froze n black
rigidity.
H1 h u m o r , n n ,oity, witii

and

beast,

and

men

mark

the \v

way o n the endless plains by r e m e m bering l i a s o r that o m b u tree. She has


r a d about o m b u tre -s. H i r o w n tre i is
(or sun not one of t h e m . She sits up
straight u la u her b o o k ts lifted f r o m
h r lap. L o f t y i s s i t t i n g b) h e r side,
T h * c h i l d r e n are p o i n r i n g and l a u g h i n g . H e m u s t have crept up o n hands
and knees, pre t e n d i n g to be a w i l d a n i m a l - a w o l f , a p r o w l i n g tiger. He's
ve r\ good at capers oi that sort. His
r o d and
It

net

lie by the s i d , o f the

w a s . A p r i l the

first

r i m e la

burn.
sat

be-

side her
I t is n o w m i d - J u n e . He r
school w i l l close s o o n for the holidays,
and she w i l l no longer K compelled
t o w e a r the u n i f o r m
black stock,1

blue

clri

if

r:

stripes

e blaze r w i t h scnooi crest


rron o n breast pocket, blue here
ck flat-heeled shoes. E v e n J u l i e t , at
was w r \ y o u n g , d i d n ' t have to we
tchool u n i f o r m . I f she had, Rom*
a d d i V ! h a v e l o o k e d at

Not

that

thev are

her.

star-cross d

R o m e o . T h e i hav< n ' t

he

thinks

she m i g h t he*. T h a t

for h i m as she

might

Loft)

himself r e a d s a lot o f m i l i t a r j

feel for a witless y o u n g e r brother w h o

books-

was a w k w a r d . A n d a bit w i l d
i
lot of L o f t i
\ \ go w i t h the

poleon and L u d e n d o r f T , all the w


from
Blenheim to the D a r d a n e l l
Wh n he doodles, as he often does .

worh

iste us' to h i r w l a n she n

the splen

r gularly.

Lofty

They

can

hold hands

re ad

palm

variant reading e v e r y t i m e . ' I hey


<issed occasionally, w h e n the c h i l d r e n
who

an

a l w a y s ther<

hav*

i rav t u hy a w a t e r he n o r
fish

been

t g l i s h-.ssa\ s f r o m C a v t o n t o Be l l o

or a broken branch or an ice-

>f froth

f r o m the

i n us,

" T h e y h a w us s u r r o u n d e d ,
bouched, and c t r c u m n a v i
" W e ' l l tell M a n a n n ,
The

r i m -.

British

s o l d i , rs

who

are

i t n use sist*
Sltgo, o n e f r o m W e x f o r d
Lancashire

tualh

falls.

" D o n ' t look n o w , " la says on* day,

ne s a w

enfiladed,

w i t h a n o t h e r , " th* three sisters chorus,

dis-

rat

ads

>t a volume of sele C t -

e v e r y t h i n g , she's a we*, hit of

Orange woman.

generals, N a -

the w r i t i n g pad s i r a l w a y s carries w i t l i


her
to make notes o n b< r r e a d i n g , u
transcribe favorit* poems-he doodles
u n i f o r m s , w i t h * v e n d. tail e x a c t . Y e t h<

,-rs the saffron stripes and savs that, in


>h-e of

campaigns and

in

England

T h e y all talk a n d l a u g h a lot, a n d she

nit if you swivel r o u n d s l o w l y \ e n d l l

likes t h e m . The

t m y three sisters i n a c t i o n . "

right up ta the

Lancashire

lad climbs

top of the conifer and

Beyond the m i l l r a c e a n d against the

pretends to see e v e r y t h i n g that's g o i n g

sh green of w o o d s she

on i n the t o w n a n d tells t h e m

about

it

Then

can see

the

I K has a l u r i d i m a g i n a t i o n .

they

go

away

toward

the

waterfall,

still l a u g h i n g , c a l l i n g back about t e l l i n g


Maryamie.
She asks h i m w h o M a r v a n m is.
hkrs
ikes ha
his sist> r s , is
Lofty,

APRIL t 4,

197

Slu wished h i m elsewhere. She half


look, d at hi r hook. She was too we II
reared to pick it up f r o m h e r lap and
ostentatiously g o on reading. T h e river
was in a b r o w n fresh that elay, t i n
peninsula of sand a n d g r a v e l n o t to be
se ; n , nor L o f t y , n o r the c h i l d r e n . T h e
black m . m s a i d , " P I nty w a t e r in the
river today."
$h agree d
lit park in a
ceryone had
pleased. Y e t

w i t h h i m . It w. s a pubfree-and-eas) t o w n , and
.. right to sit where he
this was her o w n seat

tinder the tall treehers, except w h e n


The

black

man

almost exclusively
L o f t ) was there.

said, " T h e

ScotchicS

haw f saying ( h a t t i e s a l m o n ' s her an


w h e n t l a n ' s water but she's oors whe n
it's o o t . I K explained, " T h a t me*ans
that o f t e n they're easier to catch w h e n
th< w a t e r ' s low.*'
,J

That's the Hi

ht'cuiti\v.!

hov.st\

t\:o

lovely

rmldrfii.

ig, and a laugh ira<

aflirl a n d pa rlt keeper. T h e r o u g h f e l rws bad I n . e n using, b r u t a l l y , one of


t h i swings meant for small c h i l d r e n
so brutally that the i r o n stays that supported it w e n rising out of the g r o u n d ,

to be teetotallers, hut her u n c i said


that that was not always so. On* of
d-faced, red-J aded
rive blue n r . n,
f e l l o w , was teetering, and m i g h t have
fallen if la h a d n ' t been h o l d i n g on to

Mr.
ItfcCastan had m e n t i o n e d tin.
m a t t r to t h e m . T h e y had been o f l e n -

one of the poles that supported a banner.

sive

a n d even

t h r e a t e n i n g to th

old

rheumatic m a n , so h hobbled back to


iiis s h o p a i d sent t h< boxer dog d o w n
as his deputy, T h e pair t o o k o f f as i f all
hell w e n
because tin

behind t h e m . I t was f u n n y ,
dog d i d n ' t

lust loped along

bark or
wttn

growl

i rtain
i r ot quiet d e t e r m i n a t i o n and w o u l d n ' t
[as far as she k n e w ) savage
nybody.
B u t he was a big d o g , < ven \ r a box< r ,
and the retreat oi the miscreants was
faster than th. Keystone C o p s . Sac
l a u g h e d so m u c h that the book f e l l on
t h - grass. T h . black m a n picked it up
a n d sat d o w n beside her. S i r thought
o f h i m ..s a b l . u k n a m n o t becaus* h<
w a s a N e g r o but because h e r u n c l e
had told l a r that he was a n a m b c r of
tie
B l a c k Preceptor)', w h i c h w a s a
special branch of t h O r a n g e O r d e r ,
She had seen h i m w a l k i n g last T w e l f t h
of [lily in the big parade in m e m o n
of tla B a t t l e of the B o y n e . I K had
w o r n tla b l a c k sash, w i t h shining m t a l l i c esoteric insignia attached, as had
the other o w n w h o marched beside
him
T h e c o n t i n g e n t that f o l l o w e d
w o r t blue sashes and were supposed

T h e drums d r u m m e d , thi

banners

bellied in ths breeze, the pipes and t a b s


and brass a n d accordions p l a y e d :
I t is old but i t is beautiful
And its colors they a r t fi n e.
(t w a s worn at D e r r y , A u g h r i m ,
Enniskillen, and t h e Boyne.
M\ father wore i t i n his youth,
I n bygone days o f yore,
And on the T w e l f t h 111 always
\\ ear

T h e sash i m tat h e r wore.


T h < name of the black m a n w h o sat
beside
her was Samuel M c C l i n t o c k ,
a n d he was a butcher. I t was said about
h i m for laughs that d the market ran
out of meat tla t o w n could live f o r a
week on M c C l i n t o c k ' s a p r o n : blue,
w i t h white s t r i p e s . T h a t A u g u s t day
a n d in the p u b l i c p a r k , he n a t u r a l l y
wasn't w e a r i n g t l u a p r o n . He h a d a
b l a c k mustache, a heavy blue c h i n , a
checked cleth cap, thick-soled boots,
thick w o o l l e n stockings, and w h i p c o r d
k i a h n e e h e s . I K said, " T h t . dog g a v e
those ruffians the run.*'
T l u w a y h e said it t o o k t l a fun out
of i t . Sia
said, " Y e s , M r . M c Clintock.'

II
filled
his pip< a n d lit i t . T h
smell of tobacco w a s v... Icome. Ir m i g h t
have b e e n her i m a g i n a t i o n , but u n t i l he
p u l l e d and puffed and sent the t o b a c c o
smell out a r o u n d t h e m she had t h o u g h t
that the resinous air u n d e r the tree: was
pollute d b) the o d o r s of the butcher's
- s h o p , H e said that th< salmon were a
sight to see l e a p i n g th : falls w h e n they
w e n t r u n n i n g upstream. She said that
sh< had o f t e n watched t h e m ,
" F i n told you're v r\ friendly w i t h
a w e l l - k n o w n y o u n g fisherman of m>
p. r s u a s t o u . "

" W h o , h >r instance f "


" Y o u k n o w well. That's what I
want t o t a l k to ) ou a b o u t . I t ' s a s* rious
matter."
" B e i n g friend!) w i t h a
fisherman:"
" D o n ' t play the smartv w i t h me,
y o u n g lassie. Even i f v o n d o go to the
convent secondary school. Y
mg p o o AUCatlOn t b a n ' s
pli
n o w get m o r s
good for t h e m . L o t
a t o u academ)
a n d you at the convent hay no call to
he c h u m m i n g i t up before, the whole
to vela"

" W i n not?"
But it occurred to i n r that the)
hadn't been c h u m m i n g i t up or a n a t h i n g >. Isi before
the w h o h
town.
W h a t eyes could have s p u d on t h e m
on this e ne hante d island f
" H i s uncle's a tyler, that's w h y . "
" I never k n e w he had an m a i , "
I ! i s m o t h e r ' s brother is a tyler and
\ t i y strie t . "
"What's a tyler?"
k k

i s h o u l d n ' t r e p e a t i t , lassie. B u t 1
w i l l , t o impress on you how serious i t
ts. A tyler ht is and a s t r i c t one.
W a s n ' t i t h i m spoke u p to h a v e L o f t )
h t i n t o the B-Speciafs?"
" D o n ' t a s k me. I never k n e w ha
was a B-Spe rial."
B u t one dav (of a joke, she ta m m -

THE NEW YORKER


bered,

he had given her that

39

handful

of bullets.
i he nuns w o u l d n ' t tell vou this at
school, but the B-Specials were set up
by Sir Basil B r o o k e to hold Ulstet
against the Pope and the Republic of
Ireland."
'
1 be nuns for sure hadn't t o l d her
a n y t h i n g o( the sort- - M o t h e r T e r e s a ,
w h o was very s t r o n g on p a r i t y and
being

" F o r a l l I r a r e l a c a n tile t h , rexjfs


and f l o o r s and w a l l s of ever)* h o u s e in

lad)

and

not

sitting

lib

m a n , w i t h y o u r l e g - c r o s s e d , had never
once m e n t i o n e d t i e . defensive
heroi s m s of the B-Specials, w h o , out in
country places, went a b o u t at night
v.it 1 i g u n s and in black u n i f o r m s , h o l d
tng up Cathe>lic neighbors and aski n g t h e m their names a n d addresses
w i n c h the)' knew ver) well to begin
w i t h , d d i e Levft) s h e knew in d a \ l i g h t
b) this l a u g h i n g r i v e r d i d n ' t s em
hi cut out fe>r sucl n o c t u r n a l cap- rs.

to help t h e p o l i c e to defend th. thron<


a n d t i n Protestant r e l i g i o n ? "

this t o w n / '

W h a t was it to h( r i f S i r Soma hotly-

big man hadn't moved m u c h


sat d o w n , had never raised his

t r - O t h e r spent all his l i b up a tree at


Colebrt>ok

any w i n re

voice . But n o w he shouted, " L a s s i e ,


T i l mafe y o u c a w . T h e
B-Specials
ata s w o r n to uphold Protestant l i l *
t\ and beat d o w n the Fenians and I

Lancashire
and beJ n
stick. T h e

liei lea! c l i m b d her tree

LR.A."
" I ' m not a F< m a n n o r an L R . A . "

mixed marriages," la said.

sine

"Youha.

Roman

Catholic,

Basil Brooke says t h a t R o m a n Catholics


are ninety-ntnt per cent disloyal and

sense. T h e y o u n g haw no w i t . W h a t
would Mothei I
sa sa) if she h e a r d
you we
company
with a
P

that he w o u l d n ' t
about l i e boost . '

Protestant:
" W h o w o u l d tell h

vou;

A n d there i s n ' t a m

have

o t h e r S o r t . Sir

one

of

them

"Sir W h o V I t r "

"I

" N o cheek, lassie. D i d n ' t he sit up a


tt
t Cede b r o o k i all night l o n g w i t h
g u n w a i t i n g for the I . R . A . t o attack his
use? D i d n ' t la found the

Ht knock*
and put it a w a y .

B-Speci

otfk ,

and I w i l l u< et admit an]


person into th< Lexlge
wit hoti t

having

first

bHind htm to !a in possession of tla. financial


password ot w i t h o u t th
sanction ol tin
Worshipful
A last-- r ol tl
Lodge.' "
T h e n , after a p a u s e ,
hi
said
with
gravity,
" A n d f ' m the \ \ nrshjpful M a s t r . "
He w a s the o n l ) one
< a the k i n d she I ad ev< r
m et or cer was t< me i ,
a n d she did her best, a l t h o u g h it was a l l v e n
strange the re by the r i v er and t h . remgh stre am
and und r the big t r e e , to
a pp.. a r i m p n sse d , yet all
she c o u l d t h i n k i a sa) ing
w a s " B u t I V n not int< rf e r i n g w i t h his t y l i n g . "
f hen she \% as a n g r )
and close to tears, a l t h o u g h it was also f u n n y .

a ne!

m i g h t . F o r yoi

for L o f t y . "

"Speak w i t h respect,
j o u n g lassie A t v h r, a l t h o u g h f s h o u l d n ' t tell
\ i m the se cr. t, is a big
m a n i n th O r a n g e O r de r at d. t c t i n g i n t r u d rs. H i s obligation i - this:
' ] do s o l m n l ) d. clan
that I w i l l o faithful w
m\

oinie as a monkey u p a
b l a c k m a n calmed himself.

"\\ i w e r e n ' t t h i n k i n g o i m a r r i a g e . "


* W h a t of, then? Silliness and n o n -

aren't

" B u t we *r< not carr) ing o n . "

duu< s of

The

* V o u r o w n clerg) a r e ( h a d set a g a i n s t

"It
i t s unci
km w
that the t w o of v o i : , and
you a Catholic g i r l , we re
r a m tng i n, the re a!
he 11 up< in . a r t h . "

the

else r

"What do you mean, get the hell of yom


line? Vou got the hell off my line!**

ait <d his

Fhe pi a s a n t tohaco

th

< )i
reekled,
Phe

ar<i t a

"A

Or

Half

was

nad h,e n captut

a..a

In ta.

Kaiser

lodge

n u t, and

hi

is still

cciting. l a k e

th

w o u l d she sax r H o w w o u l d she look?


Keeping live bullets in a j u g m u s t b

rom

t he ( ] mean*

oil.

ce ii v e n wno was

. clergyman

was

a Protes-

ular iok

it w a s a

m mia r

n o v.

ulsion

O r , f o r that m a t t e r

fot

ride between

herself a n a

water

things

tut

-another

m a n on

something being carried

d he

to make a
to have b u l -

. t>. N o t f o r a young h a h like you, vvhe.

1 .>an.

w have a duty to find out w i n re trn \


ana

f r o m . M) son Re ggu sp* aks higl -

\ of \ou

Reggrh

tla. footballer, \ o n

a chair

or

he

s* i g* ant ca >uldn

had

no

sun.. The
rh,.

rod

end

n I and

childre n calle d

,n-,v,i

e j, kill k

wa

r.a.j

urn

i m mat i nine
he should
hlea
h< ta >re m m
I ana

right

high as M t .

anc
hr

n a - u i n sp.

rattrap

r, G

( ra7\

a h r w h o went

to

t rank

r h tt

about

spying on
r

a a n d nosing the m out. \ \ h a t e \ e s


$pi< d i en I ^oft. e n d he l"s; I f on t l
ant. d islandr W h a t nMj neigl
tad tolel somebeod) w h o told some
bod) w h o t o l d the s, rgv ant that sl

th

ulv>
with

arum

also

.oft) 's l a u g h i n g m a r e r could have

Re * n n

seldom,

a In i" the h u h - tS.

was

a.

to match. A Worshipful M a s t .
Worshipful

w is the i nd - > that. T i n n it

is w i n t e r . O n e w h o l * week, the p a r k
is flooded. Sir. c o u l d n ' t xactl) r t , mher w i n n it was that L o f t ) h a d
\

If u

r u e , ge kou-natun if

w e l l . I t w a s r h ar t h a t "the

gt ant thought that t o b< t h o u g h t w e l l

O l d l o w w h i t house - h u e th
hill
p f r o m t h e b r o o k and the c u mat
rative ci ana. ry t o the ce l i t e r i f t l u

St, he pre t ,

\ , ant

or

tnat
t s p e a k to anybody

ithout mentioning
i his hair up the
gK . w t < i pan.
d d k , w o r loud scarves, and played

what's

i , not t o r hshtng, i n a n w navy-

vvaIrani
fiVMYl

neva r,

kne w . I t w a - a row. n ! aa

shoulder-high

skt d I i m again. * 1

had

d a a d of
ranis
qua t, His

. I ne t o w n is \ r\
t h e r belt creaks and
strains to Isold h i m together. ' I he butt
ol his pistol, his black baton case shine.
Mack to the w a l l in the d a y r o o m ,
Lofty

sits,

pah

and

nervous,

p r o w , a n d a dozen boyfriends oi a
creeds a n d classes. N o t h i n g sectaria
a b o u t G l a d y s , w h o w a s one of his o w
k i n d and th daughter of a W nrshif
fnl M a s t e r . Somebod) should tell t l
eye

on

her

But

t w o of t h e m . "
Her

own

set'

at

savs,

Orang

she

walked

Hall

on the

slowh
way

past

tl

home, sl

i i r. sa

^ia.

he

"There

v a s n t una i h a r m in i t . '
" N t n f o r the g i r l , " says the n
bind the desk. " B u t fot h i m a bre
disdpline."
Loft)
has surel)
n e v e r sti

" 1 hd you i 11 th m 1 gave \


bulb IS * '
" 0 e a r G o d , it wasn't a crime
im bullets."
] ) i d \ ou t 11 them f
" I did not "
M

sl

w a s t o o clever to h< caught


too fa
o n h e r feet, too fast on h e r feet.
As

M >tin r

at w i l l ta- a w kwarc
, V\ h it w o u l d

on

c r e a k i n g cam. chair. Sir has never noticed before that he has a Stutter. A n o t h e r sergeant sits behind i desk and
make, s notes. Tv%o y o u n g constable s ar<
Laughing in t i n b a c k - r o u n d . T h e black
a n comes in am
ys, " I w a r n e d the

V'knu,

ryh r to k e e p an

think

h) R t g g i e was a sp* e i a l d i s t i n c t i o n .

blu

and

might

( h h, I ' d just like

went
aim

r,

T b a

%l

>thal] v e n

J h

A lost

just in rase the p e o p l e a r e

i marks.

tatcment. I t ' s not a c i i m .

w
11.

n g a i , to re
ol ' . tV a n

win n

thought

o u n d to s a v i n g was " L o f t y ,

in

reel ma

ana \ <

in th city of R o m e .
A l l this she meant to m e n t i o n to
L o r n the. next time he came to the seat

" Y o u see what

i.

\ou follow,

passing

although M o t h i

j \ r sa w o u l d have a fit i f sir

k. d its branch
>wn

The

oi

f. w tilings that she

they marched out, banners flying. I t


was er, / \ to think that a man on a
white horse, r i d i n g across a river m o r

-till l i v i n g ,

led on t o w a r d t l a

bet
btugh]
h SlK.
it

e a the

w a n a rl j r r girls against.
" Y o u ' l l h a w . tro
o rnewu
com* ,aL v e
barracks w i t h me, I ' l l walk ahead and

that a punil of he rs could t h i n k of such

T h e g r e a t tree

Loft)

wouldn't h, like ly a* ht u s i n g th, m . But

R o m a n Ca-tholii.

In t

black

tion i n m a r r y u

was g r a t e f u l .

war.

practM ing {>r the da) in I a h

sings.
e child)

geant and t i e W o r s h i p f u l M a s t e r descended on her simultaneous!* ? W h a t

gre 'e n e a n s a e

until he rod a bra k goat


w ; n s up
! h stairs. Si an-, t i n : >, in J he a w n i n g s
bands played t h u n d e r o u s l ) in there,

bvi

Roman Catholic C h u
a"-. SSUrc e >n a p a r nt*

w o u l d M o t h e r Teresa t h i n k i f t h e ser-

tie

that no man could becoi

r r e c pt< i

Is parents

them.

Is wasn't possible to cont


tie g t g J . s. W h a t , i n the hoi) name of ( h a h

have

His admissie

voce

ston

Or

Grand

yot

bullets

think if v i a k m u

H i g h on its
i William

wall

ivotild

a 11A

convert
ck-

I liv<

t t o
lovaM,

41

*ubs his mustache. T h < other & rgeant


a) s, "Cast closed."
Then

her

topping mad

"Sacred Heart

unci,

walks

i n , and

so

t n a t n, seems to hav< a

o n g t i m e , and the)

listen

respectfully,

anions m a n tot Keeping


m brand)
h I . 1 h says over and ove r again,

'You

m e r c y , " says h< r

o t h e r black m e n do,

Uncle?"
"The)

small

shot.

Here,

a h e l l u v a fuss

'A

breach

of disi i p l i n e , " s a w t h

n a n behind the desk. A helluva fuss.


And

r p< ats it m a n )

walk b o n a

time s as t h . \

together.

OFTV earn, m ver again to the tall


t n a. T i n y o r t a f< w times on the

while , and w e n t to
thi
t o w n art<
w o r k in L o n d o n . O n a , bona on bohdays, sia

and

murders

No

l a u g h i n g Lancashire, bo) i n B r i t -

ish u n i f o r m w i l l ever again c l i m b th


t r e e . For one

thi

another, tla

hi

tall
r

tree

iS L<- >n.

soldi, rs go about in

a r m o r e d ears. There ana b u r n e d - o u i


buildings in the main stia ets, and harricades

and checkpoints at t i n e n d s of

tla. t o w n . A s a
"Nowadays,

woman

said

to

we

Specials,"
And
I
he s h o u l d n ' t have been t o o l i n g

but n e v e r d i d . T l u H i t l e r w a r cam* o n .
S i n . m a r r i e d a n A m e r i c a n , and w e n t to

east
and

live i n , of a l l places, D e t r o i t . H e r

neeoetl ships a id factories, a n d not


r u i n s . A n d D e r r y is like D r e s d e n on

a was

government

ss-

met L o f t y , and he a s k e d her

un-

: sergeant and the


and
a i d tla. t y l e r a n d ,
VV orshipful M a s t t
I suppose, L o f t y ' s moi
r and old M c -

cle and aunt


r

tim

:roit:

bombings

t o w n . " S o i l , otli r t o w n s art


Strabane, w h i c h w a s on the

jiwno

the

to go to the pictures, a n d she meant to

all the
tla

ait

then

gan.

s; me, t h e y ' l l put h i m

"Hut,
la ta

national

bands, guns at the ready, in trucks and

treet and spoke a few w o r d s . She left

" D a m n nonsens* ! " says her u n c i .

ror

a r a t e w bullets. J told tl). m sea'

soldier? f r o m the N o r t h

s< rvice. R e p a i r w o r k had he e n p l a n n e d ,

blami to t l a i n . He w a s a cool one, that


damn,
r uolrie, a n d
in this place, they m a l a

young

E n g l a n d cities d o i n g their

but
t o o k off f o r home, and

make a helluva fuss about a f< w

HtUets."

luct*ant
of

" W h a t did t h

n o u t h f u l of g o l d te< t h . He talks for a

tnd

have

aunt.

n a policeman in D e Some

N e g r o trouble

his rookie policeman

from

t h e n , am

Remembering

her,

walked,

the

was on p a t r o l w i t h a trained m a n . T h e

last time 1 was

rookii has n o g u m So t h e y ' r e r u s h , d by

Bluebell M e a d o w . T h e bridge over the

, \ w ma

black n a n , and

millrace

tin o w n

clobbe rs the

onscious.

But the ( > k h

stoops d o w i

first

teak

nam unma he

broken

down

grass g r e w

n t o s t ,<d the
,

island.

W h e n T wrote to her about this, she.

a
T

to
foot

a m o n g o t h e r t h i n g s , that she

had

lever f o u n d out the n a m . , of that t a l l


- -BENEDICT

eon a

KIELI

*an
high

Winners, to be j u d g e d by three-dimcokmal artists of national reputation, w i l l


i

t h r e e , four, five, six. H e d i d n ' t w a s t e a

published by tlu Connecticut


Commission
on the Arts.
One
of the
judges is positive!)

hulh I . "

gone , smashed s o m e time before \n* re-

pudg).

holster,

ot t l u

over

was
Rank

h. d h

where
thi river in fierce ii^^d
had
taken e v e r y t h i n g hefoia i t . T h e e h i l dren's s w i n g - - a n d all the seats were

maids

p i s t o ] out

plank.

to n . u s t t

wr

t i n people

i t w a s a w i d e t r a c k of s a n d a n d g r a v e l ,

ther

takes the

ih<

trained

town,

where

da) a f t e r .
aid,

C a s l a n a n d his d o g d i e d .

( >klahom.

>nii), is a n a n a u - o u t

Newry,

wors

and

shoots

aie s a n d kills six black m e n

one , t

by J u l )

22.Arts

Dull*

tin,

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