Walking past his children’s school, James reflected on his own childhood, on the hopes and dreams he had shared with his brothers growing up. The building, which earlier that day had rung with the voices of students chanting their lessons, was empty and silent. The evening was drawing in and he had been walking and thinking most of the day.
James had grown more and more anxious when he received the same answer to every enquiry he made about work – there was nothing available. Normally he would be given the name of someone who might be able to put a day’s work his way. The strained conversation at each call he made, was a clear indication of how difficult it would be for James to find any kind of work. He never for one moment thought that his brief time spent in custody and his uncle’s imprisonment would have such a serious impact on his ability to earn a living.
As James approached Paddy Mac’s the sound of men’s laughter drifted towards him and a lantern, burning in the window, beckoned him into the warmth and companionship he was in need of at that moment. The offer of a place on a crew was made to the young fisherman as Paddy Mac put a mug of porter in front of him. “On the house, James,” he said. “On account of your troubles.”
James put a coin on the table, “I can pay for my drink Paddy, for now at least. I’ve wasted my whole day on a fruitless task. I should have known that word would have spread around the gentry. Their servants have all been warned off having anything to do with me.” James turned and raised his drink to the man who had offered him a place on his boat. “I’m much obliged to you, Thomas. I won’t let you down.”
“Give it time, son. Pat McGrother is well respected in our community and we all stand by him, is that not so?” said one of the men, looking around the crowded room.
A chorus of cheers followed, as drinks were raised in a toast to James’s uncle, but one voice was more subdued and one arm not lifted as high as the rest.
“I had best be getting home. I know it’s early by my standards but if it means that Ma will leave me in peace it’s worth it,” John McDermott announced as he drained the last few drops of his porter.
“If you haven’t learned to turn a deaf ear yet son, then you had better stay single. You’ll be driven demented if you don’t,” said his father, smiling at the nods of agreement he received.
“Sure I owe you something for the drink tonight, don’t I? She’ll only be half as mad if one of us comes home sober,” John said to his father, before heading towards the door.
On his way through the men, packed tightly into Paddy Mac’s on account of a fundraising event held there earlier, John came face to face with James McGrother. There was an awkward silence as he stopped and stared at the latter, as if about to say something to him.
“If I was you, I would heed what your father said about the deaf ear, John. Are you still courting that young one from Ardee?” asked James. “I hear she has a tongue on her that could clip a hedge.”
The young man smiled good naturedly at the joke being made at his expense and waved as he left the laughter behind him. The fresh air set his face tingling after the stuffy warmth of Paddy Mac’s but instead of turning towards his own cottage, John headed in the opposite direction, a heavy weight bearing down on his conscience.
The house that loomed at the end of the road was in total darkness, not even the glow of a fire showing through the window. John was about to walk away, having lost his nerve, when the sound of coughing came from the trees at the side of the house.
“Is that you, Daniel?” the young man asked, peering into the shadows.
“No, it’s not Daniel. That’s the curse of getting old, son,” a tall, slender middle-aged man walked towards him, “An interrupted night’s sleep – and I daresay it won’t be the last visit I make to the bushes before morning. I saw you with your father at the meeting tonight, does that mean you sympathize with the Brotherhood, or do you side with the Church against it?”
Matthew Clarke stood a good four inches taller than the young man in front of him. Finding himself facing his friend’s father, John had the urge to turn on his heel and run but that would only arouse suspicion and cause more trouble in the long term.
“I was hoping to pay a visit with Daniel, is he ailing? It’s not like him to leave so early when there’s a good crowd in Paddy Mac’s,” John was thinking fast and avoided answering the question. “I take it he’s asleep, if he’s home at all. Your house is in darkness.”
“Well now, I did wonder myself at why he accompanied me home. As you know, John, I haven’t touched a drop in years and once the meeting was over there was no need for me to stay. I don’t believe in tempting faith, son. Lizzie and the wee ones were asleep when we arrived so we went off to bed ourselves. Do you want me to wake up Daniel for you? Is it an urgent matter, or can it wait till morning?” asked Matthew.
John was tempted to have his friend woken up but realized that his own father would be home in an hour or so and would wonder what had become of him. He answered that it was not very important and could wait, then said goodnight.
As he watched the young man disappear into the dark night, Matthew Clarke couldn’t help feeling that there was something very serious troubling John McDermott. Stepping into his cottage, he saw a shadow move away from the small window in the room and knew that his son had been watching. Whispering into the dark corner where Daniel lay on his bed, Matthew said he knew he was awake and he was to join him outside.
“That was your friend, John, looking to speak with you. What were you doing, hiding in the dark, instead of coming outside to join us?” asked Matthew.
“We had a difference of opinion earlier, that’s why I left with you. I didn’t want to have a row with him. It will have all blown over by the time the drink wears off.”
“Was it over a woman, son? Do ye both have your eye on the same girl?”
Although his father teased him by asking such a question, Daniel felt relieved at what he saw as a good excuse for his behaviour.
“Now you have it. I didn’t want to tell you for fear of the embarrassment it would cause me. I would rather you forgot about it and let us sort it out between ourselves,” replied Daniel, letting out a long, slow breath.
“I would truly like to do that if I thought it was the reason for your trouble,” his father replied, “But there is something more serious going on between you two that no girl could ever be the cause of. I’ll not rest till you tell me what it is, son. You know what it means to keep a secret, as does every man at that meeting tonight. If this has anything to do with the Brotherhood you must tell me. If not, I’ll leave you in peace.”
Daniel could feel his resolve weakening and was beginning to regret not speaking with his friend while he had the chance. The strain on the face of James McGrother that evening had brought home to him how much the man was suffering at the incarceration of his uncle. John McDermott had been standing beside Daniel when James walked into Paddy Mac’s and the two friends had exchanged concerned glances. There was no need to speak of what was on their minds, they knew what the other was thinking.
“It’s only right that I should have a word with John first,” said Daniel, “If he’s in agreement, then we will confide in you, Da. Please don’t ask me any more questions tonight. I’ll wait until after Mass tomorrow to arrange a meeting for both of us with John. He might want his father to come, too.”
“Don’t involve his father just yet, son. That man’s tongue is too easily loosened by drink and if this has anything to do with the Brotherhood, the fewer who know of it, the better.” Matthew Clarke patted his son’s back before turning to enter his cottage, “Well, I think we should get what little sleep is left to us before the rest of the house wakes up, don’t you?”
Daniel nodded in agreement but knew there would be no sleep for him that night, after what had just passed between them
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