A few days later, when Swallow told her he was going to go back to live at Maria’s, she was initially distressed. But she had moved quickly, identifying a colleague now teaching at the Loreto Girls’ School on St Stephen’s Green and seeking shared accommodation. Harriet still felt nervous for a time without Joe coming and going around the house, but as time went by it seemed to work out quite well, she told herself.

In the ordinary course, Harriet would have asked her new co-tenant to accompany her to the National Land League meeting at the Mansion House. But the Loreto sisters were running a sale of work, and the teaching staff were expected to help at the stalls. Harriet had decided that she would call on Maria to persuade her to abandon the public house during the quiet hours of the afternoon.

‘Mr Davitt will speak,’ Harriet pressed her. ‘It will be a big meeting. In the Round Room. It will be a wonderful experience.’

Maria was still hesitant.

‘He doesn’t make many appearances now,’ Harriet enthused. ‘His health is poor. But people have travelled hundreds of miles to hear him in the United States, in Australia, in Africa, even in Russia. He’s a world figure, you know. I think he’ll probably speak on Mr Parnell’s difficulties too. Come on, a few hours away from the business will do you good. And you’ll have Joe here in the evening to help out.’

That was true, Maria conceded privately. He had told her he would finish work no later than six o’clock.

‘All right. I’ll come with you,’ she agreed without enthusiasm. ‘I’ll leave Tom in charge until Joe gets here.’

Tom was the senior barman at Grant’s. After more than thirty years in the trade he knew his business, and there were few situations he could not handle. The house would be in good hands for the afternoon.

Maria Walsh was first and last a businesswoman. She had no interest in Michael Davitt’s efforts on behalf of the dispossessed, whether in Ireland or anywhere else. She was equally unmoved by Mr Parnell’s current difficulties. A special commission had been sitting in London since September probing allegations that he was in league with the violent leaders of the Fenian organisation. Each day’s newspapers carried columns of the proceedings, faithfully reporting the cross-examination of witnesses by some of the most able members of the English Bar. Parnell’s supporters, who included most of nationalist Ireland, followed the accounts assiduously. Some thought their hero was on the rack. Others held that his evidence was so strong and clear that his enemies were confounded.

Harriet was fervently political and nationalist. She was a member of the Gaelic Union and the Society for the Preservation of the Irish Language. In reality, Maria told herself, she would go along with Harriet to make sure she did not get into trouble.