She passed into the inner hall and Tom left the diningroom by the French windows. Mrs Moledy was still sitting on her own at the long table; other people were standing near it. He skirted the lawn, then re-entered the shrubbery to continue his observation. The Bishop was talking while his wife and another woman listened. Old Zeb Sykes was sitting down on the grass and children were playing some kind of game around him, decorating him with daisy chains. Eugene Prille and his wife were arm in arm.

‘I need to get into the trees,’ Mrs Moledy said to the Bishop of Killaloe. ‘I shouldn’t be loitering here.’

‘Trees?’

‘I’m here on business, as a matter of fact.’

The glass she’d filled to the brim was still on the table in front of her. She lifted it to her lips and found that the whiskey it contained had been pleasantly warmed by the sun. She remarked upon this to the Bishop, adding that she always preferred the addition of a drop of warm water, although she hadn’t asked for it, not being in a public house. ‘Haven’t they a lovely place here, though?’ she said, endeavouring to be friendly.

Other people were beginning to sit down. She waved at a man from the Bank of Ireland, whom she knew to talk to, and at Miss de Ryal, whom she knew by sight. The Commodium female was there, extraordinary that they’d invite the like of that.

‘Well, isn’t this great?’ she remarked to the Bishop.

‘Isn’t what great?’

‘Errah, go on with you!’ She nudged his elbow with her own. As soon as she’d finished the contents of her glass she’d slip away, no trouble to anyone. At the far end of the table, where the old grandmother was being assisted on to a chair, the sister was directing people to other chairs. He was standing just behind her, directing people also. She waved at him when he was looking straight at her, but he took no notice.

Someone sat down on her other side, a young fellow with glasses. She gave a laugh because he was wearing an overcoat on a day that would bake the bones in your back. She asked him about it and he said that everyone should put an overcoat on before sitting down outside.