She hadn’t asked him to move up to the fire, where Mikie had already settled down with groans of satisfaction. “Move on up, let ye,” she should have said. Did she want him to leave? He stood up, jingling the change in his pocket, and looked at her uncertainly. He had never been wished out of her house before; he felt he had a right there – a small right, representing his small share in her. If he wanted to remind her of it, one remark would be enough, but he hesitated to make it, knowing that it might hurt because indignation would put an edge on whatever words he used. He continued to wait, therefore, lifting himself up and letting himself down gently on his toes, wanting her to ask him to stay. But she said nothing as she wiped the table. Damn it, maybe she had just forgotten to ask him and that was all. Still, he waited to be reassured.

The sound of the approaching car made her look up suddenly. “Oh, thank goodness!” Her eyes were sharp with excitement. “I was afraid Jimmy wouldn’t be back in time.”

In time for whom, he wanted to ask jealously, but she hurried eagerly into the kitchen, leaving him on his own. Well, he wasn’t going to rush to meet the great Jimmy. Stay here, he told himself, and play it cool.

“Good lad!” he could hear her at the kitchen door. “You got it, so?”

“That’s the sherry,” said Jimmy, “and that’s the other. I got the twelve-year-old.” His voice came nearer, his public speaker’s voice, whose resonance he could turn on like a tap. Even muted, as now, it penetrated the house like a stage whisper. “’Twas safer to get it. He has a taste for the good stuff.”

“Your uncle Tom’s here,” she murmured. And Father Conroy imagined her warning nod.

“Don’t I know!”

“Sssh!”

“Just like him to turn up...”

Father Conroy moved forward hastily before any more was said. He could take direct abuse and revel in it. Home truths were different.

He stood in the doorway until Jimmy saw him.

“Hullo there, Uncle Tom. I noticed the tracks of your car in.”

“Yes, I came in all right.” How did the fellow think he came? By helicopter?

“You’re not denying them, so?” Jimmy measured slyly how far he could take the joke. “Bald tires and all?”