grown-up thing

And Emmet McMahon, who had not been able to say his own name in public with any hope of finishing it, stood and declaimed the verses of Lord Macaulay as if it was his mission in life.

"Aunt Maura'll be at home when I get back." Clio said.

"That's nice for you." Kit said.

"Yes. She said she'd teach us golf. Would we learn?"

Kit considered it.

It would be a very grown-up thing to do, certainly. It would put them in a different class from those who just collected golf balls. But Kit felt a resistance. She wondered why. Possibly because her mother didn't play. Mother had never shown any interest in the game at all.

It seemed a bit disloyal somehow for Kit to learn, as if she didn't agree with her mother's choice.

"I'll think about it." she said eventually.

"With you that means no." Clio said.

"Why do you say that?"

"Because I know you very well." Clio spoke menacingly.

Kit resolved to discuss the golf with her mother that evening; if Mam encouraged her to go ahead, she would. That would show Clio Kelly that she wasn't always right.

"Don't give me very much, Rita. I had a meal that you wouldn't give to a condemned man there was so much on the plate." Martin McMahon said ruefully.

"Why did you eat all that, Daddy?" Emmet asked.

"We went on an outing to the hotel as a treat."

"How much did it cost?" Emmet wondered.

"I don't know, to tell you the truth. Clio's Auntie Maura paid for all of us."

"Did Mother enjoy it?" Kit was pleased there had been an outing.

"Ah. Your mother wasn't able to come with us."

"Where is Mother now?"

"She'll be back later."