Dancing at Lughnasa Flashcards
(139 cards)
1
Q
And it must have helped my aunts bear the shame Mother brought on the household by having me - as it was called then - out of wedlock.
A
D’you know what he’s at out there? Did you see, Christina? Making two kites!
2
Q
Some kites he’ll make.
A
All by himself. No help from anybody.
3
Q
You always said he was talented, Kate.
A
No question about that. And very mature for his years.
4
Q
Is that a spinning-top he has?
A
It’s nothing.
5
Q
Oh, Kate, you have him spoiled. Where did you get it?
A
Morgan’s Arcade.
6
Q
I know why you went into Morgan’s!
A
He did indeed. He’s very mannerly.
7
Q
You wanted to see Austin Morgan!
A
Every field along the road - they’re all out at the hay and the corn.
8
Q
Because you have a notion of that aul Austin Morgan!
A
Going to be a good harvest by the look of it.
9
Q
But what you don’t know is that he’s going with a wee young thing from Carrickfad.
A
Rose, what Austin Morgan does or doesn’t do with-
10
Q
Why are you blushing then? She’s blushing isn’t she? Why-why-why, Kate?
A
For God’s sake, Rose, shut up, would you!
11
Q
Are you tired?
A
The road from town gets longer every day. You can laugh if you want but I am going to get that old bike fixed up and I am going to learn to ride this winter.
12
Q
Many about Ballybeg?
A
Ballybeg’s off its head. I’m telling you. Everywhere you go - everyone you meet - it’s one topic: Are you going to the harvest dance? Who are you going with? What are you wearing? This year’s going to be the biggest ever and the best ever.
13
Q
Don’t we all.
A
Another of those riveting Annie M.P. Smiths on novels for you, Agnes.
14
Q
Ah. Thanks.
A
The Marriage of Nurse Harding - oh, dear! For you, Christina. One teaspoonful every morning before breakfast.
15
Q
What’s this?
A
Cod-liver oil. You’re far too pale.
16
Q
Thank you, Kate.
A
Because you take no exercise.
17
Q
I’d go, too, Aggie! I’d go with you!
A
For heaven’s sake you’re not serious, Agnes - are you?
18
Q
I think I am.
A
Hah! There’s more than Ballybeg off its head.
19
Q
I think we should all go.
A
Have you any idea what it’ll be like? - Crawling with cheeky young brats that I taught years ago.
20
Q
We couldn’t, Aggie - could we?
A
And all the riff-raff of the countryside.
21
Q
What do you say?
A
You have a seven-year-old child - have you forgotten that?
22
Q
Can I have it? God, Aggie? I could dance non-stop all night - all week - all month!
A
And who’d look after Father Jack?
23
Q
And you look great in that cotton dress you got for confirmation last year. You’re beautiful in it, Kate.
A
What sort of silly talk is -
24
Q
And you can wear my brown shoes with the crossover straps.
A
This is silly talk. We can’t, Agnes. How can we?
25
Will Maggie what! Try to stop her!
Oh God, Agnes, what do you think?
26
We’re going.
Are we?
27
We’re off! We’re away!
Maybe we’re mad - are we mad?
28
I’ve five pounds saved. I’ll take you. I’ll take us all.
Hold on now -
29
How many years has it been since we were at the harvest dance? -at any dance? I don’t care how young they are, how drunk and dirty and sweaty they are. I want to dance, Kate. It’s the Festival of Lughnasa. I’m only thirty-five. I want to dance.
I know, I know, Agnes, I know. All the same - oh my God - I don’t know if it’s -
30
I love you, Aggie! I love you more than chocolate biscuits!
No, no, no! We’re going nowhere!
31
If we all want to go -
Look at yourselves l, will you! Just look at yourselves! Dancing at our time of day? That’s for young people with no duties and no responsibilities and nothing in their heads but pleasure.
32
Kate, I think we -
Do you want the whole countryside to be laughing at us? - women of our years? - mature women, dancing? What’s come over you all? And this is Father Jack’s home - we must never forget that - ever. No, no, we’re going to no harvest dance.
33
But you just said -
And there’ll be no more discussion about it. The matter’s over. I don’t want it mentioned again.
34
Watch out. She’s in one or her cranky moods.
Your ten Wild Woodbine, Maggie.
35
We were all going to go to the harvest dance - like the old days. And then Kate -
Your shoes, Rose. The shoemaker says, whatever kind of feet you have, only the insides of the soles wear down.
36
Is that a bad thing?
That is neither a bad thing nor a good thing, Rose. It’s just -distinctive, as might be expected. Cornflour... salt... tapioca - it’s gone up a penny for some reason... sugar for the bilberry jam - if we ever get the bilberries...
37
That’s the very thing we could do with here - a house boy.
And the battery. The man in the shop says we go through these things quicker than anyone in Ballybeg.
38
Good for us.
I met the parish priest. I don’t know what has happened to that man. But ever since Father Jack came home he can hardly look me in the eye.
39
He was always moody, that man.
Maybe that’s it... the paper... candles... matches... The word’s not good on that young Sweeney boy from the back hills. He was anointed last night.
40
I didn’t know he was dying?
Not an inch of his body that isn’t burned.
41
Does anybody know what happened?
Some silly prank up in the hills. He knows he’s dying, the poor boy. Just lies there, moaning.
42
What sort of prank?
How would I know?
43
What are they saying in the town?
I know no more than I’ve told you, Christina.
44
It was last Sunday week, the first night of the Festival of Lughnasa; and they were doing what they do every year up there in the back hills.
Festival of Lughnasa! What sort of-
45
First they light a bonfire beside a spring well. Then they dance round it. Then the drive their cattle through the flames to banish the devil out of them.
Banish the- ! You don’t know the first thing about what-
46
And this year there was an extra big crowd of boys and girls. And they were off their heads with drink. And young Sweeney’s trousers caught fire and he went up like a torch. That’s what happened.
Who filled your head with that nonsense?
47
They do it every Lughnasa. I’m telling you. That’s what happened.
And they’re savages! I know those people from the back hills! I’ve taught them! Savages - that’s what they are! And what pagan practices they have are no concern of ours - none whatever! It’s a sorry day to hear talk like that in a Christian home, a Catholic home! All I can say is that I’m shocked and disappointed to hear you repeating rubbish like that, Rose!
48
I beg your pardon... the wrong apartment... forgive me...
Come in and join us, Jack.
49
I thank you. I am grateful. It is so strange: I don’t remember the - the architecture? -the planning? -what’s the word? -the lay-out! -I don’t recollect the lay-out of this home... scarcely. That is strange, isn’t it? I thought the front door was there. You walked to the village to buy stores, Agnes?
It’s Kate. And dozens of people were asking for you.
50
They remember me?
Of course they remember you! And when you’re feeling stronger they’re going to have a great public welcome for you -flags, bands, speeches, everything!
51
Why would they do this?
Because they’re delighted you’re back.
52
Yes?
Because they’re delighted you’re home.
53
I may do that... thank you... you are most kind...
It will be a slow process but he’ll be fine. Apples... butter... margarine... flour... and wait till you hear! Who did I meet in the post office! Maggie, are you listening to me?
54
Yes?
You’ll never believe it - your old pal, Bernie O’Donnell! Home from London! First time back in twenty years!
55
Bernie...
Absolutely gorgeous. The figure of a girl of eighteen. Dressed to kill from head to foot. And the hair! -as black and as curly as the day she left. I can’t tell you - a film star!
56
Bernie O’Donnell...
And beside her two of the most beautiful children you ever laid eyes on. Twins. They’ll be fourteen next month. And to see the three of them together - like sisters, I’m telling you.
57
Twin girls.
Identical.
58
Identical.
Nora and Nina.
59
Bernie O’Donnell... oh my goodness...
And wait till you hear -they are pure blond! ‘Where in the name of God did the blond hair come from?’ I asked her. ‘The father. Eric,’ she says. ‘He’s from Stockholm.’
60
Where’s Stockholm, Aggie?
So there you are. Bernie O’Donnell married to a Swede. I couldn’t believe my eyes. But the said bubbly, laughing, happy Bernie. Asking about everybody by name.
61
She remembered us all?
Knew all about Michael; had his age to the very month. Was Agnes still the quickest knitter in Ballybeg? We’re none of us thinking of getting married? -and weren’t we wise!
62
Did she remembered me?
‘Rose had the sweetest smile I ever saw.’
63
There!
But asking specially for you, Maggie: how you were doing - what you were doing - how were you looking - were you as light-hearted as ever? Everything she thinks of you, she says, she had the memory of the two of you hiding behind the turf stack, passing a cigarette between you and falling about laughing about some boy called- what was it?- Curley somebody?
64
Will she be around for a while?
Leaving tomorrow.
65
Nice names, aren’t they? -Nina and Nora.
I like Nora. Nice name. Strong name.
66
Nina? No, not a lot.
Well, if there’s a Saint Nina, I’m afraid she’s not in my prayer book.
67
Maybe she’s a Swedish saint.
Saints in Sweden! What’ll it be next!
68
Mother used to say twins are a double blessing.
You’ve offered us that cheap wisdom already, Rose.
69
I know it wasn’t fair - it wasn’t fair at all. I mean they must have been blind drunk, those judges, whoever they were...
Is it working now, Christina?
70
What’s that?
Marconi.
71
Bloody useless set, that.
No need for corner-boy language, Christina.
72
Goddamn bloody useless.
Are wellingtons absolutely necessary on a day like this, Rose?
73
I’ve only my wellingtons and my Sunday shoes, Kate. And it’s not Sunday, is it?
Oh, dear, we’re suddenly very logical, aren’t we?
74
I’ll tell you something, girls: this Ginger Rogers has seen better days.
It’s those cigarettes are killing you.
75
Wonderful Wild Woodbine. Next best thing to a wonderful wild man. Want a drag, Kitty?
Go and wash your face, Maggie. And for goodness’ sake tie those laces.
76
Just leave him alone for once, will you, please?
Who’s making the tea this evening?
77
The connections seem to be all right.
Please take that surplice off, Christina.
78
Maybe a valve has gone - if I knew what a valve looked like.
Have you no sense of propriety?
79
Goddamn and bloody useless.
And you’ll buy a new one, will you?
80
It was never any good.
You’ll buy it out of your glove money, will you? I thought what you and Rose earned knitting gloves was barely sufficient to clothe the pair of you.
81
This isn’t your classroom, Kate.
Because I certainly don’t see any of it being offered for the upkeep of the house.
82
Please, Kate-
But now it stretches to buying a new wireless. Wonderful!
83
I make every meal you sit down to every day of the week-
Maybe I should start knitting gloves?
84
Oh, Jesus Christ Almighty.
How dare Mr Evans show his face here.
85
He wants to see his son, doesn’t he?
There’s no welcome for that creature here.
86
We’ll have to give him his tea.
I don’t see why we should.
87
And there’s nothing in the house.
No business at all coming here and upsetting everybody.
88
Has anybody got spare shoelaces?
Look at the state of that floor.
89
Maybe he just wants to meet Father Jack.
Father Jack may have something to say to Mr Evans. Agnes, put those clothes away.
90
He won’t stay the night, Kate, will he?
He most certainly won’t stay the night in this house!
91
Have you a piece of cord, Aggie? Anybody got a bit of twine?
Behave quite normally. Be very calm and very dignified. Stop peeping out, Rose!
92
Show me.
Has he a walking stick?
93
Yes.
And a straw hat?
94
Yes.
It’s Mr Evans all right.
95
I couldn’t look that man in the face. I just hate him - hate him!
That’s a very unchristian thing to say, Rose. There’s no luck in talk like that!
96
Look at me hands, Kate - I’m shaking!
You are not shaking. You are perfectly calm and you are looking beautiful and what you are going to do is this. You’ll meet him outside. You’ll tell him his son is healthy and happy. And then you’ll send him packing - yourself and Michael are managing quite well without him - as you always have. Of course ask him in. And give the creature his tea. And stay the night if he wants to. But in th outside loft. And alone. Now. I brought a newspaper home with me. Did anybody see where I left in?
97
In the garden.
Agnes, did you see where I left the paper?
98
Looks terrified, the poor fella.
Terrified, my foot.
99
I’m sure he could do with a good meal.
I’ll give him three minutes. Then if she doesn’t hunt him, I will.
100
Must take up some exercise. Putting on too much weight.
He’s not still there, is he?
101
Yes.
Doing what, in God’s name?
102
Talking.
Would someone please tell me what they have to say to each other?
103
He’s Michael’s father, Kate.
That’s a responsibility never burdened Mr Evans.
104
You should see the way she’s looking at him - you’d think he was the biggest toff in the world.
Tinker, more likely! Loafer! Wastrel!
105
She’s knows all that, too.
Too? That’s all there is.
106
Look! A single magpie! That’s definitely a bad omen - one for sorrow. Bang! Missed.
They’re not still talking, are they?
107
Yes.
Laughing? Absolutely beyond my comprehension.
108
Like so many things, Kate.
Two more minutes and Mr Evans is going to talk to me. Laughing? Hah!
109
I didn’t touch it.
Turn that thing off, Aggie, would you?
110
They’re dancing.
What!
111
They’re dancing together.
God forgive you!
112
He has her in his arms.
He has not! The animal!
113
They’re dancing round the garden, Aggie.
Oh God, what sort of fool is she?
114
He’s a beautiful dancer, isn’t he?
He’s leading her astray again, Maggie.
115
I’m busy! For God’s sake can’t you see I’m busy!
That’s the only thing that Evans creature could ever do well - was dance. And look at her, the fool. For God’s sake, would you look at that fool of a woman? Her whole face alters when she’s happy, doesn’t it? They dance so well together. They’re such a beautiful couple. She’s as beautiful as Bernie O’Donnell any day, isn’t she?
116
Believe me, Chrissie; this time the omens are terrific! The omens are unbelievable this time!
They’re away. Dancing.
117
Whatever’s wrong with it, that’s all it seems to last - a few minutes at a time. Something to do with the way it heats up.
We probably won’t see Mr Evans for another year - until the humour suddenly takes him again.
118
He has a Christian name.
And in the meantime it’s Christina’s heart that gets crushed again. That’s what I mind. But what really infuriated me is that the creature has no sense of ordinary duty. Does he ever wonder how she clothes and feeds Michael? Does he ask her? Does he care?
119
Going out to get my head cleared. Bit of a headache all day.
Seems to me the beasts of the field have more concern for their young than creature has.
120
Do you ever listen to yourself, Kate? You are such a damned righteous bitch! And his name is Gerry! -Gerry! -Gerry!
And what was that all about?
121
Who’s to say?
Don’t I know his name is Gerry? What am I calling him? - St Patrick?
122
She’s worried about Chris, too.
You see, that’s what a creature like Mr Evans does: appears out of nowhere and suddenly poisons the atmosphere in the whole house - God forgive him, the bastard! There! That’s what I mean! God forgive me!
123
‘‘‘Twas on the Isle of Capri that he found her
Beneath the shade of an old walnut tree.
Oh, I can still see the flowers blooming round her,
Where they met on the Isle of Capri.’
If you knew your prayers as well as you know the words of those aul pagan songs!... She’s right: I am a righteous bitch, amn’t I?
124
Now. Who’s for a Fox-trot?
You work hard at your job. You try to keep the home together. You perform your duties as best you can – because you believe in responsibilities and obligations and good order. And then suddenly, suddenly you realise that hair cracks are appearing everywhere; that control is slipping away; that the whole thing is so fragile it can’t be held together much longer. It’s all about to collapse, Maggie.
125
Nothing about to collapse, Kate.
That young Sweeney boy from the back hills – the boy who was anointed – his trousers didn’t catch fire, as Rose said. They were doing some devilish thing with the goat – some sort of sacrifice for the Lughnasa festival; and Sweeney was so drunk he toppled over into the middle of the bonfire. Don’t know why that came into my head…
126
Kate...
And Mr Evans is off again for another 12 months and next week or the week after Christina’ll collapse into one of her depressions. Remember last winter? – All that sobbing and lamenting in the middle of the night. I don’t think I could go through that again. And the doctor says he doesn’t think Father Jack’s mind is confused but that is his superiors probably had no choice but send him home. Whatever he means by that, Maggie. And the parish priest did talk to me today. He said the numbers in the school are falling and that there may not be a job for me after the summer. But the numbers aren’t falling, Maggie. Why is he telling me lies? Why does he want rid of me? And why has he never come out to visit Father Jack? If he gives me the push, all five of us will be at home together all day long – we can spend the day dancing to Marconi. But what worries me most of all is Rose. If I died – if I lost my job – if this house were broken up – what would become of our Rosie?
127
Shhh.
I must put my trust in God, Maggie, mustn’t I? He’ll look after her, won’t he? You believe that, Maggie, don’t you?
128
Kate... Kate... Kate, love...
I believe that, too... I believe that... I do believe that...
129
The good news here is... that’s the most exciting turf we’ve ever burned!
Gerry’s not gone, is he?
130
Just this minute. He says to thank you very much for the offer of the bed.
Next time he’s back.
131
That’ll be in a week or two - depending on his commitments.
Well, if the outside loft happens to be empty.
132
No reason at all. Aggie’s the chef. ‘Everybody’s doing it, doing it, doing it. Picking their noses and chewing it, chewing it, chewing it...’
Maggie, please!
133
If anybody is looking for me, I’ll be down at the bank of the river for the rest of the... I beg your pardon. My mind was... It’s Kate.
It’s Kate.
134
I know that. But in the other life. Do you think perhaps Mother didn’t believe in the ancestral spirits?
Ancestral-! What are you blathering about, Jack? Mother was a saintly woman who knew she was going straight to heaven. And don’t you forget to take your medicine again this evening. You’re supposed to take it three times a day.
135
Or dance.
What you must do is read a lot - books, papers, magazines, anything. I read every night with young Michael. It’s great for his vocabulary.
136
I’m sure you’re right, Kate. I’ll do that. I haven’t seen young Michael today, Agnes.
Christina, Jack.
137
Ah.
Michael’s father was here a while ago... Gerry Evans... Mr Evans is a Welshman... not that that’s relevant to...
138
In Ryanga women are eager to have love-children. The more love-children you have, the more fortunate your household is thought to be. Have you other love-children?
She certainly has not, Jack; and strange as it may seem to you, neither has Agnes nor Rose nor Maggie nor myself. No harm to Ryanga but your home in Donegal now and much as we cherish love children here they are not exactly the norm. And the doctors says if you don’t take exercise your legs will seize up on you; so I’m going to walk you down to the main road and up again three times and then you’ll get your tea and then you read the paper from front to back and then you’ll take your medicine and then you’ll go to bed. And we’ll do the same thing tomorrow and the day after and the day after that until we have you back to what you were. You start off and I’ll be with you in a second. Where is my cardigan?
139
But this time there was no sobbing, no lamenting, no collapse into a depression.
We’ll leave these back where we found them, Jack. They aren’t ours. They belong to the child. Now we’ll go for our walk.
