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Mis Devlin hd bcm Msz Cirni ǎt v spît. Ś hd bn edycetd in a hî-clas convnt, ẃr ś hd lrnt Frenć n ḿzic. Az ś wz naćṛli pel n unbndñ in manr ś md fy frendz at scūl. Ẃn ś cem t ɖ ej v marij ś wz snt ǎt t mni hǎzz ẃr hr pleyñ n îṿri manrz wr mć admîrd. Ś sat amd ɖ ćili srcl v hr acumpliśmnts, wêtñ fr sm sūtr t brev it n ofr hr a briłnt lîf. Bt ɖ yuñ men hūm ś met wr ordnri n ś gev ɖm no incurijmnt, trayñ t consol hr r’mantic dzîrz bî ītñ a gret dīl v Trciś Dlît in sīcrit. Hvr, ẃn ś drù nir ɖ limit n hr frendz bgan t lūsn ɖer tuñz abt hr, ś sîḷnst ɖm bî mariyñ Mr. Cirni, hu wz a būt-mcr on Orṃnd Cì.

H wz mć oldr ɖn ś. Hiz convseśn, ẃć wz sirịs, tc ples at inṭvlz in hiz gret brǎn bird. Aftr ɖ frst yir v marid lîf, Msz Cirni psivd ɖt sć a man wd wer betr ɖn a r’mantic prsn, bt ś nvr pt hr ǒn r’mantic îdīaz awe. H wz sobr, ʈrifti n pays; h wnt t ɖ ōltr evri frst Frîde, smtmz wɖ hr, of̣nr bî himslf. Bt ś nvr wìcnd in hr rlijn n wz a gd wîf t him. At sm parti in a strenj hǎs ẃn ś liftd hr îbrǎ evr so slîtli h std p t tec hiz līv n, ẃn hiz cof trubld him, ś pt ɖ îdrdǎn qilt ovr hiz fīt n md a stroñ rum punć. Fr hiz part, h wz a modl faɖr. Bî peyñ a smōl sum evri wīc intu a ssayti, h inśurd fr bʈ hiz dōtrz a dǎri v wn hundṛd pǎndz ć ẃn ɖe cem t ɖ ej v twenti-for. H snt ɖ eldr dōtr, Caʈlīn, t a gd convnt, ẃr ś lrnt Frenć n ḿzic, n afṭwd peid hr fiz at ɖ Acaḍmi. Evri yir in ɖ munʈ v Jlî Msz Cirni faund oceźn t se t sm frend:

“Mî gd man z pacñ s of t Sceriz fr a fy wīcs.”

F it wz nt Sceriz it wz Hoʈ or Grêstonz.

Ẃn ɖ Îriś Rvîvl bgan t b aprīśbl Msz Cirni dtrmind t tec advantij v hr dōtr’z nem n bròt an Îriś tīćr t ɖ hǎs. Caʈlīn n hr sistr snt Îriś picćr-poscardz t ɖer frendz n ɖz frendz snt bac uɖr Îriś picćr-poscardz. On speśl Súndez, ẃn Mr. Cirni wnt wɖ hiz faṃli t ɖ pro-cʈīdṛl, a litl crǎd v ppl wd asmbl aftr mas at ɖ cornr v Cʈīdṛl Strīt. Ɖe wr ol frendz v ɖ Cirniz—ḿzicl frendz or Naśṇlist frendz; n, ẃn ɖe hd pleid evri litl cǎntr v gosip, ɖe śc handz wɖ wn anɖr ol tgɖr, lafñ at ɖ crosñ v so mni handz, n sd gdbî t wn anɖr in Îriś. Sn ɖ nem v Mis Caʈlīn Cirni bgan t b hŕd ofn on ppl’z lips. Ppl sd ɖt ś wz vri clevr at ḿzic n a vri nîs grl n, morovr, ɖt ś wz a b’livr in ɖ lanḡj muvmnt. Msz Cirni wz wel cntnt at ɖs. Ɖrfr ś wz nt s’prîzd ẃn wn de Mr. Hoḷhn cem t hr n pṛpozd ɖt hr dōtr śd b ɖ acumṗnist at a siriz v for grand conṣts ẃć hiz Ssayti wz gwñ t gv in ɖ Enćnt Conṣtrūmz. Ś bròt him intu ɖ drw̃rūm, md him sit dǎn n bròt ǎt ɖ dcantr n ɖ silvr biscitbaṛl. Ś entrd hart n soul intu ɖ dītelz v ɖ enṭprîz, advîzd n dswedd; n fîṇli a contract wz drwn p bî ẃć Caʈlīn wz t rsiv et giniz fr hr srṿsz az acumṗnist at ɖ for grand conṣts.

Az Mr. Hoḷhn wz a novis in sć delic̣t matrz az ɖ wrdñ v bílz n ɖ dspozñ v îtmz fr a program, Msz Cirni hlpt him. Ś hd tact. Ś ń ẃt artīsts śd g intu capitlz n ẃt artīsts śd g intu smōl tîp. Ś ń ɖt ɖ frst tenr wd nt lîc t cm on aftr Mr. Mìd’z comic trn. T cīp ɖ ōdịns cntińli dvrtd ś slipt ɖ dǎtfl îtmz in btwn ɖ old feṿrits. Mr. Hoḷhn cōld t si hr evri de t hv hr advîs on sm pônt. Ś wz inverịbli frendli n advîzñ—homli, in fact. Ś pśt ɖ dcantr twdz him, seyñ:

“Nǎ, hlp yrslf, Mr. Hoḷhn!”

N ẃl h wz hlpñ himslf ś sd:

“D’nt b afreid! D’nt b afreid v it!”

Evrʈñ wnt on smuɖli. Msz Cirni bòt sm luvli bluś-pnc śarmŕz in Brǎn Toṃs’z t let intu ɖ frunt v Caʈlīn’z dres. It cost a priti peni; bt ɖr r oceźnz ẃn a litl xpns z jusṭfaybl. Ś tc a duzn v tū-śilñ ticits fr ɖ fînl conṣt n snt ɖm t ɖoz frendz hu cd nt b trustd t cm uɖ̇wz. Ś fgot nʈñ n, ʈancs t hr, evrʈñ ɖt wz t b dn wz dn.

Ɖ conṣts wr t b on Wenzde, Ʈrzde, Frîde n Saṭde. Ẃn Msz Cirni arîvd wɖ hr dōtr at ɖ Enćnt Conṣtrūmz on Wenzde nît ś dd nt lîc ɖ lc v ʈñz. A fy yuñ men, wẹrñ brît blu bajz in ɖer cots, std îdl in ɖ vsṭbyl; nn v ɖm wòr īvnñdres. Ś pást bî wɖ hr dōtr n a qc glans ʈru ɖ opn dor v ɖ hōl śoud hr ɖ cōz v ɖ stywdz’ îdlnis. At frst ś wundrd hd ś mstecn ɖ aur. No, it wz twenti minits t et.

In ɖ dresñrūm bhnd ɖ stej ś wz intṛdyst t ɖ secṛtri v ɖ Ssayti, Mr. Fitspatric. Ś smîld n śc hiz hand. H wz a litl man, wɖ a ẃît vecnt fes. Ś notist ɖt h wòr hiz soft brǎn hat cerlisli on ɖ sîd v hiz hed n ɖt hiz axnt wz flat. H hld a program in hiz hand n, ẃl h wz tōcñ t hr, h ćùd wn end v it intu a môst pulp. H sīmd t ber dis’pôntmnts lîtli. Mr. Hoḷhn cem intu ɖ dresñrūm evri fy minits wɖ rports fṛm ɖ box-ofis. Ɖ artīsts tōct amñ ɖmslvz nrṿsli, glanst fṛm tîm t tîm at ɖ mirr n rold n unrold ɖer ḿzic. Ẃn it wz nirli haf-past et, ɖ fy ppl in ɖ hōl bgan t xpres ɖer dzîr t b enttend. Mr. Fitspatric cem in, smîld vecntli at ɖ rūm, n sd:

“Wel nǎ, lediz n jntlṃn. I s’poz w’d betr opn ɖ bōl.”

Msz Cirni rwordd hiz vri flat fînl siḷbl wɖ a qc stér v cntmt, n ɖen sd t hr dōtr incuṛjñli:

“R y redi, dir?”

Ẃn ś hd an oṗtyṇti, ś cōld Mr. Hoḷhn asd n asct him t tel hr ẃt it mnt. Mr. Hoḷhn dd nt nǒ ẃt it mnt. H sd ɖt ɖ Cmiti hd md a mstec in arenjñ fr for conṣts: for wz tù mni.

“N ɖ artīsts!” sd Msz Cirni. “V cors ɖe r dwñ ɖer bst, bt riyli ɖe r nt gd.”

Mr. Hoḷhn admitd ɖt ɖ artīsts wr no gd bt ɖ Cmiti, h sd, hd dsîdd t let ɖ frst ʈri conṣts g az ɖe plizd n rzrv ol ɖ taḷnt fr Saṭde nît. Msz Cirni sd nʈñ, bt, az ɖ mīdiocr îtmz foloud wn anɖr on ɖ platform n ɖ fy ppl in ɖ hōl grù fywr n fywr, ś bgan t rgret ɖt ś hd pt hrslf t eni xpns fr sć a conṣt. Ɖr wz smʈñ ś dd’nt lîc in ɖ lc v ʈñz n Mr. Fitspatric’s vecnt smîl iṛtetd hr vri mć. Hvr, ś sd nʈñ n wêtd t si hǎ it wd end. Ɖ conṣt xpîrd śortli bfr ten, n evrwn wnt hom qcli.

Ɖ conṣt on Ʈrzde nît wz betr atndd, bt Msz Cirni sw at wns ɖt ɖ hǎs wz fild wɖ pepr. Ɖ ōdịns bhevd indecṛsli, az f ɖ conṣt wr an informl dres-rhrsl. Mr. Fitspatric sīmd t injô himslf; h wz qt unconśs ɖt Msz Cirni wz tecñ angri not v hiz conduct. H std at ɖ éj v ɖ scrīn, fṛm tîm t tîm jutñ ǎt hiz hed n xćenjñ a laf wɖ tū frendz in ɖ cornr v ɖ balc̣ni. In ɖ cors v ɖ īvnñ, Msz Cirni lrnt ɖt ɖ Frîde conṣt wz t b abandnd n ɖt ɖ Cmiti wz gwñ t muv hevn n rʈ t s’kr a bumpr hǎs on Saṭde nît. Ẃn ś hŕd ɖs, ś sòt ǎt Mr. Hoḷhn. Ś butnhould him az h wz limpñ ǎt qcli wɖ a glas v leṃned fr a yuñ ledi n asct him wz it tru. Yes, it wz tru.

“Bt, v cors, ɖt dz’nt oltr ɖ contract,” ś sd. “Ɖ contract wz fr for conṣts.”

Mr. Hoḷhn sīmd t b in a huri; h advîzd hr t spīc t Mr. Fitspatric. Msz Cirni wz nǎ bginñ t b alarmd. Ś cōld Mr. Fitspatric awe fṛm hiz scrīn n tld him ɖt hr dōtr hd sînd fr for conṣts n ɖt, v cors, acordñ t ɖ trmz v ɖ contract, ś śd rsiv ɖ sum orijiṇli stipyletd fr, ẃɖr ɖ ssayti gev ɖ for conṣts or nt. Mr. Fitspatric, hu dd nt cać ɖ pônt at iśu vri qcli, sīmd unebl t rzolv ɖ dificlti n sd ɖt h wd brñ ɖ matr bfr ɖ Cmiti. Msz Cirni’z angr bgan t flutr in hr ćīc n ś hd ol ś cd d t cīp fṛm ascñ:

“N hu z ɖ Cometi pre?”

Bt ś ń ɖt it wd nt b ledilîc t d ɖt: so ś wz sîḷnt.

Litl bôz wr snt ǎt intu ɖ prinsipl strīts v Dublin rli on Frîde mornñ wɖ bundlz v hanbílz. Speśl pufs apird in ol ɖ īvnñpeprs, rmîndñ ɖ ḿzic-luvñ public v ɖ trīt ẃć wz in stor fr it on ɖ folowñ īvnñ. Msz Cirni wz smẃt ri’śurd, bt ś ʈt wel t tel hr huzbnd part v hr sspiśnz. H lisnd cerf̣li n sd ɖt phps it wd b betr f h wnt wɖ hr on Saṭde nît. Ś agrìd. Ś rspctd hr huzbnd in ɖ sem we az ś rspctd ɖ Jenṛl Post-ofis, az smʈñ larj, s’kr n fixt; n ɖo ś ń ɖ smōl numbr v hiz taḷnts ś aprīśietd hiz abstract valy az a mel. Ś wz glad ɖt h hd sjstd cmñ wɖ hr. Ś ʈt hr planz ovr.

Ɖ nît v ɖ grand conṣt cem. Msz Cirni, wɖ hr huzbnd n dōtr, arîvd at ɖ Enćnt Conṣtrūmz ʈri-qortrs v an aur bfr ɖ tîm at ẃć ɖ conṣt wz t bgin. Bî il luc it wz a reni īvnñ. Msz Cirni plest hr dōtr’z cloɖz n ḿzic in ćarj v hr huzbnd n wnt ol ovr ɖ bildñ lcñ fr Mr. Hoḷhn or Mr. Fitspatric. Ś cd fînd nɖr. Ś asct ɖ stywdz wz eni membr v ɖ Cmiti in ɖ hōl n, aftr a gret dīl v trubl, a stywd bròt ǎt a litl wmn nemd Mis Beirn t hūm Msz Cirni xplend ɖt ś wontd t si wn v ɖ secṛtriz. Mis Beirn xpctd ɖm eni minit n asct cd ś d enʈñ. Msz Cirni lct srćñli at ɖ oldiś fes ẃć wz scrùd intu an xpreśn v trustflnis n inʈyziazm n ansrd:

“No, ʈanc y!”

Ɖ litl wmn hopt ɖe wd hv a gd hǎs. Ś lct ǎt at ɖ ren untl ɖ meḷnc̣li v ɖ wet strīt ifest ol ɖ trustflnis n inʈyziazm fṛm hr twistd fīćrz. Ɖen ś gev a litl sai n sd:

“Ā, wel! W dd ǎr bst, ɖ dir nz.”

Msz Cirni hd t g bac t ɖ dresñrūm.

Ɖ artīsts wr arîvñ. Ɖ beis n ɖ secnd tenr hd olrdi cm. Ɖ beis, Mr. Dugn, wz a slendr yuñ man wɖ a scatrd blac mstaś. H wz ɖ sun v a hōlportr in an ofis in ɖ siti n, az a bô, h hd suñ pṛloñd beis nots in ɖ rzǎndñ hōl. Fṛm ɖs humbl stet h hd rezd himslf untl h hd bcm a frst-ret artīst. H hd apird in grand oṗra. Wn nît, ẃn an oṗratic artīst hd fōḷn il, h hd unḍtecn ɖ part v ɖ cñ in ɖ oṗra v Maritana at ɖ Qīn’z Ʈiytr. H sañ hiz ḿzic wɖ gret fīlñ n volym n wz wormli welcmd bî ɖ gaḷri; bt, unforćṇtli, h mard ɖ gd impreśn bî wîpñ hiz nǒz in hiz gluvd hand wns or twîs ǎt v ʈtlisnis. H wz un’symñ n spouc litl. H sd yuz so softli ɖt it pást uņotist n h nvr dranc enʈñ strongr ɖn milc fr hiz vôs’z sec. Mr. Bel, ɖ secnd tenr, wz a fer-herd litl man hu cmpitd evri yir fr prîzz at ɖ Feis Ceoil. On hiz forʈ trîl h hd bn awordd a bronz medl. H wz xtrimli nrṿs n xtrimli jeḷs v uɖr tenrz n h cuvrd hiz nrṿs jeḷsi wɖ an ibŭłnt frendlinis. It wz hiz hymr t hv ppl nǒ ẃt an ordīl a conṣt wz t him. Ɖrfr ẃn h sw Mr. Dugn h wnt ovr t him n asct:

“R y in it tù?”

“Yes,” sd Mr. Dugn.

Mr. Bel laft at hiz felo-sufrr, hld ǎt hiz hand n sd:

“Śec!”

Msz Cirni pást bî ɖz tū yuñ men n wnt t ɖ éj v ɖ scrīn t vy ɖ hǎs. Ɖ sīts wr biyñ fild p rapidli n a pleznt nôz srkletd in ɖ ōḍtorịm. Ś cem bac n spouc t hr huzbnd prîṿtli. Ɖer convseśn wz evidntli abt Caʈlīn fr ɖe bʈ glanst at hr ofn az ś std ćatñ t wn v hr Naśṇlist frendz, Mis Hīli, ɖ cntralto. An uņoun solitri wmn wɖ a pel fes wōct ʈru ɖ rūm. Ɖ wimin foloud wɖ cīn îz ɖ fedd blu dres ẃć wz strećt upn a mīgr bodi. Smwn sd ɖt ś wz Madm Glin, ɖ s’prāno.

“I wundr ẃr dd ɖe dig hr p,” sd Caʈlīn t Mis Hīli. “I’m śr I nvr hŕd v hr.”

Mis Hīli hd t smîl. Mr. Hoḷhn limt intu ɖ dresñrūm at ɖt momnt n ɖ tū yuñ lediz asct him hu wz ɖ uņoun wmn. Mr. Hoḷhn sd ɖt ś wz Madm Glin fṛm Lundn. Madm Glin tc hr stand in a cornr v ɖ rūm, holdñ a rol v ḿzic stifli bfr hr n fṛm tîm t tîm ćenjñ ɖ d’rex́n v hr startld gêz. Ɖ śado tc hr fedd dres intu śltr bt fél revengefully intu ɖ litl cup bhnd hr colrbon. Ɖ nôz v ɖ hōl bcem mor ōḍbl. Ɖ frst tenr n ɖ baṛton arîvd tgɖr. Ɖe wr bʈ wel drest, stǎt n cmplesnt n ɖe bròt a breʈ v opyḷns amñ ɖ cumṗni.

Msz Cirni bròt hr dōtr ovr t ɖm, n tōct t ɖm emịbli. Ś wontd t b on gd trmz wɖ ɖm bt, ẃl ś strouv t b p’lît, hr îz foloud Mr. Hoḷhn in hiz limpñ n dīvịs corsz. Az sn az ś cd ś xkzd hrslf n wnt ǎt aftr him.

“Mr. Hoḷhn, I wont t spīc t y fr a momnt,” ś sd.

Ɖe wnt dǎn t a dscrit part v ɖ coṛdor. Msz Cirni asct him ẃn wz hr dōtr gwñ t b peid. Mr. Hoḷhn sd ɖt Mr. Fitspatric hd ćarj v ɖt. Msz Cirni sd ɖt ś dd’nt nǒ enʈñ abt Mr. Fitspatric. Hr dōtr hd sînd a contract fr et giniz n ś wd hv t b peid. Mr. Hoḷhn sd ɖt it wz’nt hiz biznis.

“Ẃ z’nt it yr biznis?” asct Msz Cirni. “Dd’nt y yrslf brñ hr ɖ contract? Enwe, f it’s nt yr biznis it’s mî biznis n I mīn t si t it.”

“Y’d betr spīc t Mr. Fitspatric,” sd Mr. Hoḷhn distntli.

“I d’nt nǒ enʈñ abt Mr. Fitspatric,” rpitd Msz Cirni. “I hv mî contract, n I intnd t si ɖt it z carid ǎt.”

Ẃn ś cem bac t ɖ dresñrūm hr ćīcs wr slîtli s’fyzd. Ɖ rūm wz lîvli. Tū men in ǎtdor dres hd tecn pześn v ɖ fîrples n wr ćatñ fmiłrli wɖ Mis Hīli n ɖ baṛton. Ɖe wr ɖ Frīmn man n Mr. O’Madn Brc. Ɖ Frīmn man hd cm in t se ɖt h cd nt wêt fr ɖ conṣt az h hd t rport ɖ lecćr ẃć an Americn prīst wz gvñ in ɖ Manśnhǎs. H sd ɖe wr t līv ɖ rport fr him at ɖ Frīmn ofis n h wd si ɖt it wnt in. H wz a gre-herd man, wɖ a plōẓbl vôs n cerfl manrz. H hld an xtnḡśt sgar in hiz hand n ɖ aroma v sgar smoc flotd nir him. H hd nt intndd t ste a momnt bcz conṣts n artīsts bord him cnsidṛbli bt h rmend līnñ agnst ɖ mantlpìs. Mis Hīli std in frunt v him, tōcñ n lafñ. H wz old inuf t sspct wn rīzn fr hr p’lîtnis bt yuñ inuf in spirit t trn ɖ momnt t acǎnt. Ɖ wormʈ, fregṛns n culr v hr bodi apild t hiz snsz. H wz plezntli conśs ɖt ɖ bŭzm ẃć h sw rîz n fōl slǒli bnʈ him rouz n fél at ɖt momnt fr him, ɖt ɖ laftr n fregṛns n wilfl glansz wr hiz tribyt. Ẃn h cd ste no longr h tc līv v hr rgretf̣li.

“O’Madn Brc wl rait ɖ notis,” h xplend t Mr. Hoḷhn, “n I’l si it in.”

“Ʈanc y vri mć, Mr. Hendric,” sd Mr. Hoḷhn, “y’l si it in, I nǒ. Nǎ, w’nt y hv a litl smʈñ bfr y g?”

“I d’nt mînd,” sd Mr. Hendric.

Ɖ tū men wnt alñ sm torćs paṣjz n p a darc sterces n cem t a s’cludd rūm ẃr wn v ɖ stywdz wz uncorcñ botlz fr a fy jntlṃn. Wn v ɖz jntlṃn wz Mr. O’Madn Brc, hu hd faund ǎt ɖ rūm bî instñt. H wz a swāv, eldrli man hu baḷnst hiz impozñ bodi, ẃn at rest, upn a larj silc umbrela. Hiz magniḷqnt wstn nem wz ɖ moṛl umbrela upn ẃć h baḷnst ɖ fîn probḷm v hiz fnansz. H wz wîdli rspctd.

Ẃl Mr. Hoḷhn wz enttenñ ɖ Frīmn man Msz Cirni wz spīcñ so aṇmetidli t hr huzbnd ɖt h hd t asc hr t lowr hr vôs. Ɖ convseśn v ɖ uɖrz in ɖ dresñrūm hd bcm strend. Mr. Bel, ɖ frst îtm, std redi wɖ hiz ḿzic bt ɖ acumṗnist md no sîn. Evidntli smʈñ wz roñ. Mr. Cirni lct stret bfr him, strocñ hiz bird, ẃl Msz Cirni spouc intu Caʈlīn’z ir wɖ sbdyd emf̣sis. Fṛm ɖ hōl cem sǎndz v incurijmnt, clapñ n stampñ v fīt. Ɖ frst tenr n ɖ baṛton n Mis Hīli std tgɖr, wêtñ tranqli, bt Mr. Bel’z nrvz wr gretli ajtetd bcz h wz afreid ɖ ōdịns wd ʈnc ɖt h hd cm lêt.

Mr. Hoḷhn n Mr. O’Madn Brc cem intu ɖ rūm. In a momnt Mr. Hoḷhn psivd ɖ huś. H wnt ovr t Msz Cirni n spouc wɖ hr rṇstli. Ẃl ɖe wr spīcñ ɖ nôz in ɖ hōl grù lǎdr. Mr. Hoḷhn bcem vri red n xîtd. H spouc vołbli, bt Msz Cirni sd crtli at inṭvlz:

“Ś w’nt g on. Ś mst gt hr et giniz.”

Mr. Hoḷhn pôntd despṛtli twdz ɖ hōl ẃr ɖ ōdịns wz clapñ n stampñ. H apild t Mr. Cirni n t Caʈlīn. Bt Mr. Cirni cntinyd t stroc hiz bird n Caʈlīn lct dǎn, muvñ ɖ pônt v hr ny śu: it wz nt hr fōlt. Msz Cirni rpitd:

“Ś w’nt g on wɖt hr muni.”

Aftr a swift strugl v tuñz Mr. Hoḷhn hobld ǎt in hest. Ɖ rūm wz sîḷnt. Ẃn ɖ stren v ɖ sîḷns hd bcm smẃt penfl Mis Hīli sd t ɖ baṛton:

“Hv y sìn Msz Pat Cambl ɖs wīc?”

Ɖ baṛton hd nt sìn hr bt h hd bn tld ɖt ś wz vri fîn. Ɖ convseśn wnt no frɖr. Ɖ frst tenr bnt hiz hed n bgan t cǎnt ɖ lincs v ɖ gold ćen ẃć wz xtndd acrs hiz weist, smîlñ n humñ randm nots t obzrv ɖ ifct on ɖ fruntl sîṇs. Fṛm tîm t tîm evrwn glanst at Msz Cirni.

Ɖ nôz in ɖ ōḍtorịm hd rizn t a clamr ẃn Mr. Fitspatric brst intu ɖ rūm, foloud bî Mr. Hoḷhn, hu wz pantñ. Ɖ clapñ n stampñ in ɖ hōl wr puñćuetd bî ẃiṣlñ. Mr. Fitspatric hld a fy bancnots in hiz hand. H cǎntd ǎt for intu Msz Cirni’z hand n sd ś wd gt ɖ uɖr haf at ɖ inṭvl. Msz Cirni sd:

“Ɖs z for śilñz śort.”

Bt Caʈlīn gaɖrd in hr scrt n sd: “Nǎ, Mr. Bel,” t ɖ frst îtm, hu wz śecñ lîc an aspn. Ɖ sñr n ɖ acumṗnist wnt ǎt tgɖr. Ɖ nôz in ɖ hōl daid awe. Ɖr wz a pōz v a fy secndz: n ɖen ɖ piano wz hŕd.

Ɖ frst part v ɖ conṣt wz vri s’xesfl xpt fr Madm Glin’z îtm. Ɖ pur ledi sañ Cilarni in a bodilis gaspñ vôs, wɖ ol ɖ old-faśnd maṇrizmz v inṭneśn n pṛnunsieśn ẃć ś b’livd lent eligns t hr sññ. Ś lct az f ś hd bn reẓrectd fṛm an old stej-wordrob n ɖ ćīpr parts v ɖ hōl md fun v hr hî weilñ nots. Ɖ frst tenr n ɖ cntralto, hvr, bròt dǎn ɖ hǎs. Caʈlīn pleid a s’lex́n v Îriś erz ẃć wz jenṛsli aplōdd. Ɖ frst part clozd wɖ a stŕñ petriotic reṣteśn dlivrd bî a yuñ ledi hu arenjd aṃćr ʈiatriclz. It wz dzrvidli aplōdd; n, ẃn it wz endd, ɖ men wnt ǎt fr ɖ inṭvl, cntnt.

Ol ɖs tîm ɖ dresñrūm wz a hîv v xîtmnt. In wn cornr wr Mr. Hoḷhn, Mr. Fitspatric, Mis Beirn, tū v ɖ stywdz, ɖ baṛton, ɖ beis, n Mr. O’Madn Brc. Mr. O’Madn Brc sd it wz ɖ most scandḷs xbiśn h hd evr witnist. Mis Caʈlīn Cirni’z ḿzicl c’rir wz endd in Dublin aftr ɖt, h sd. Ɖ baṛton wz asct ẃt dd h ʈnc v Msz Cirni’z conduct. H dd nt lîc t se enʈñ. H hd bn peid hiz muni n wśt t b at pīs wɖ men. Hvr, h sd ɖt Msz Cirni mt hv tecn ɖ artīsts intu cnsiḍreśn. Ɖ stywdz n ɖ secṛtriz dbetd hotli az t ẃt śd b dn ẃn ɖ inṭvl cem.

“I agri wɖ Mis Beirn,” sd Mr. O’Madn Brc. “Pe hr nʈñ.”

In anɖr cornr v ɖ rūm wr Msz Cirni n hr huzbnd, Mr. Bel, Mis Hīli n ɖ yuñ ledi hu hd t rsît ɖ petriotic pìs. Msz Cirni sd ɖt ɖ Cmiti hd trītd hr scandḷsli. Ś hd sperd nɖr trubl nr xpns n ɖs wz hǎ ś wz rpeid.

Ɖe ʈt ɖe hd onli a grl t dīl wɖ n ɖt, ɖrfr, ɖe cd rîd ruf-śod ovr hr. Bt ś wd śo ɖm ɖer mstec. Ɖe wd’nt hv derd t hv trītd hr lîc ɖt f ś hd bn a man. Bt ś wd si ɖt hr dōtr got hr rîts: ś wd’nt b fūld. F ɖe dd’nt pe hr t ɖ last farɖñ ś wd mc Dublin rñ. V cors ś wz sori fr ɖ sec v ɖ artīsts. Bt ẃt els cd ś d? Ś apild t ɖ secnd tenr hu sd h ʈt ś hd nt bn wel trītd. Ɖen ś apild t Mis Hīli. Mis Hīli wontd t jôn ɖ uɖr grūp bt ś dd nt lîc t d so bcz ś wz a gret frend v Caʈlīn’z n ɖ Cirniz hd ofn invîtd hr t ɖer hǎs.

Az sn az ɖ frst part wz endd Mr. Fitspatric n Mr. Hoḷhn wnt ovr t Msz Cirni n tld hr ɖt ɖ uɖr for giniz wd b peid aftr ɖ Cmiti mītñ on ɖ folowñ Tyzde n ɖt, in ces hr dōtr dd nt ple fr ɖ secnd part, ɖ Cmiti wd cnsidr ɖ contract brocn n wd pe nʈñ.

“I hv’nt sìn eni Cmiti,” sd Msz Cirni angṛli. “Mî dōtr hz hr contract. Ś wl gt for pǎndz et intu hr hand or a ft ś w’nt pt on ɖt platform.”

“I’m s’prîzd at y, Msz Cirni,” sd Mr. Hoḷhn. “I nvr ʈt y wd trīt s ɖs we.”

“N ẃt we dd y trīt m?” asct Msz Cirni.

Hr fes wz inndetd wɖ an angri culr n ś lct az f ś wd atac smwn wɖ hr handz.

“I’m ascñ fr mî rîts.” ś sd.

“Y mt hv sm sns v dīsnsi,” sd Mr. Hoḷhn.

“Mt I, indd?… N ẃn I asc ẃn mî dōtr z gwñ t b peid I c’nt gt a sivl ansr.”

Ś tóst hr hed n asymd a hōti vôs:

“Y mst spīc t ɖ secṛtri. It’s nt mî biznis. I’m a gret felo fol-ɖ-didl-I-du.”

“I ʈt y wr a ledi,” sd Mr. Hoḷhn, wōcñ awe fṛm hr abrupli.

Aftr ɖt Msz Cirni’z conduct wz cndemd on ol handz: evrwn apruvd v ẃt ɖ Cmiti hd dn. Ś std at ɖ dor, haġd wɖ rej, argywñ wɖ hr huzbnd n dōtr, jstikletñ wɖ ɖm. Ś wêtd untl it wz tîm fr ɖ secnd part t bgin in ɖ hop ɖt ɖ secṛtriz wd aproć hr. Bt Mis Hīli hd cîndli cnsntd t ple wn or tū acumpnimnts. Msz Cirni hd t stand asd t alǎ ɖ baṛton n hiz acumṗnist t pas p t ɖ platform. Ś std stil fr an instnt lîc an angri ston imij n, ẃn ɖ frst nots v ɖ soñ struc hr ir, ś còt p hr dōtr’z clǒc n sd t hr huzbnd:

“Gt a cab!”

H wnt ǎt at wns. Msz Cirni rápt ɖ clǒc rnd hr dōtr n foloud him. Az ś pást ʈru ɖ dorwe ś stopt n glerd intu Mr. Hoḷhn’z fes.

“I’m nt dn wɖ y yt,” ś sd.

“Bt I’m dn wɖ y,” sd Mr. Hoḷhn.

Caʈlīn foloud hr muɖr mīcli. Mr. Hoḷhn bgan t pes p n dǎn ɖ rūm, in ordr t cūl himslf fr h flt hiz scin on fîr.

“Ɖt’s a nîs ledi!” h sd. “Ǒ, ś’z a nîs ledi!”

“Y dd ɖ propr ʈñ, Hoḷhn,” sd Mr. O’Madn Brc, pôzd upn hiz umbrela in apruvl.

♣

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