t Honoria stop scratching her head and attend to what I'm
saying to the whole of you. I'm taking you on up at the big house as
upper house-maid, Katey-Ann."

"And what's come over Sarah," said Katey-Ann. "Is she going to be
married?"

"Never mind you about Sarah," said Lady Corless, "but attend to me.
You're the under-housemaid, Onnie, so you are, in place of your sister
Susy, and Honoria here is kitchen-maid. If anyone comes asking you
questions that's what you are and that's what you're to say. Do you
understand me now? But mind this. I don't want you up at the house,
ne'er a one of you. You'll stay where you are and you'll do what you're
doing, looking after your father and drinking tea, the same as before,
only your wages will be paid regular to you. Where's Thady?"

Thady Malone was the youngest of the family.

Since Dan became butler at Castle Affey, Thady had given his father such
help as he could at the forge. Lady Corless found him seated beside the
bellows smoking a cigarette. His red hair was a tangled shock. His face
and hands were extraordinarily dirty. He was enjoying a leisure hour or
two while his father was at the public house. To his amazement he found
himself engaged as butler and valet to Sir Tony Corless of Castle Affey.

"But you'll not be coming up to the house," said Lady Corless, "neither
by day nor night. Mind that. I'd be ashamed for anyone to see you, so I
would, for if you washed your face for the Christmas it's the last time
you did it."

That afternoon, after Sir Tony's luncheon had been served, Danny, Sarah,
Susy and Molly were formally dismissed. Their insurance cards were
stamped and their wages were paid up to date. It was explained to them
at some length, with many repetitions but quite clearly, that though
dismissed they were to continue to do their work as before. The only
difference in their position was that their wages would no longer be
paid by Sir Tony. They would receive much larger wages, the almost
incredible sum of twenty-five shillings a week, from the Government.
Next day the four Malones drove over to Dunbeg and applied for
out-of-work pay at the Labour Exchange. After due inquiries and the
signing of some papers by Lady Cor-less, their claims were admitted.
Four farm labourers, two gardeners, and a groom, all cousins of Lady
Corless, were dismissed in the course of the following week. Seven young
men from the village, all of them related to Lady Corless, were form