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Show 139 Culley standing on the porch, her shoulders wrapped in a shawl. "I'm wantin' to come inside, Karl," she told him. "Sure." He stepped back to let her enter, uncertain whether Maggie Rose would react with anger to a visit from Jame's mother, or whether she'd continue to rock, staring at the wall, and ignore Bridey Culley along with everyone else. After a nod toward Hugo, Bridey crossed the kitchen to stand before Maggie Rose. "It's done and over now, Maggie Rose, and there's no turnin' back the clock," she said. "Jame has taken Kathleen to wife. I want you to know I had nary an inkling what they were up to. Nor did Mayo. Only our Francis Xavier knew, the little scamp, and he kept his gab shut for once." Maggie Rose raised her head as though the movement pained her. "Where are they?" she whispered. "They come over our house just a bit ago. That moment's when we first learned they was wed. All last night we could hear you carryin' on, Maggie Rose, clear to our house, but we didn't know what ailed you, and we'd liefer not come find out on account of how you feel about us. When I told Kathleen, just now, how you'd wailed the night through, she wept her pretty eyes out, poor little love. So I said I'd come to this house and try to make peace atwixt yez two. And it'd be a poor thing if we didn't make peace atwixt our two families, as well, now that our childer are wed. This hate has gone on long enough." Maggie Rose stared at Bridey with haunted eyes for a long moment Then, with startling suddenness, she shrieked, "I want my daughter back!" |