He stopped talking and I could say nothing to comfort him. A lump formed in my throat and I fought away tears. I leaned forward and put my hand on his. At length, I managed to speak.

“Where did the Canadians take her?” I said gently.

“To Halifax, up in Nova Scotia. There’s a whole graveyard full of them there.”

“I wonder if Nora is buried there as well?” I whispered, forgetting for a moment that Dom was there.

He squeezed my hand. “I saw her name on the list of missing,” he said. “Maybe one day, please God, you’ll find her.”

He fetched two lemonades and we sat in silence at the table. The music that had so enchanted me earlier was now a din that drummed in my ears. The dancers had formed circles, arms aloft, locking hands, their feet moving with precision as they spun faster and faster. Soon they were a blur, and I closed my eyes to avoid getting dizzy.

I felt Dom’s hand on my arm. “Are you all right, Delia?”

I started. “Yes. I’d like to leave, but I’ll have to wait for Kathleen. I wouldn’t know how to get back without her.”

Dom smiled. “Aye, and you’ll be waiting a long time for herself to be ready to go home. I’ve known Kathleen for a while, and she’d dance ’til the sun came up if she could. She’s a quare one for the craic.”

I nodded.

“I could see you home if you want,” he said, suddenly shy. “I can go and tell Kathleen you’re leaving with me. I’ve seen Kathleen home on occasion, so I won’t get you lost.”

“That would be grand, Dom,” I said, and then, in a sudden panic, I added, “Dom, Kathleen keeps calling me Nora. She hasn’t caught on yet that my name is Delia.”

Dom gave me a curious look but said nothing. I held my breath and watched as he went on to the dance floor and took Kathleen aside. As he spoke to her, I noticed her face turning red. She glared over at me and then shoved Dom away and went back to the dancing. She seemed very annoyed with either Dom or me; I didn’t know which. I passed no remarks to him.

When we arrived outside the O’Hanlon house, Dom shuffled his feet, as if weighing what he wanted to say. I waited.

“Will you come to the dance with me next week, Delia?” he said. “I promise we’ll dance our feet off. We need to enjoy ourselves after what we’ve lived through.”

“But what about Kathleen?” I blurted out.

“What about her?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know, she just seemed very annoyed when you told her you were leaving with me.”

“Ah, sure pay her no mind,” he said. “Kathleen always wants everything her way.”