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Chapter 5
Habitandawearehardertoovercomethanpeoplerealizeuntiltheyactuallytrytocircumventtheconductofyears;Frankfoundhecouldnotdowhathelongedtodo,hecouldnotthrowthecontentsofhisglassinhisfather’sface,notinfrontofabarcrowd.Sohedownedwhatwasleftofhisbeeratagulp,smiledalittlesicklyandsaid,"Sorry,Daddy,I’vepromisedtomeetsomeblokesdownattheshowground."
"Well,offyougo,then.Buthere,takethisandspenditonyourself.Haveagoodtime,andifyougetdrunkdon’tletyourmotherfindout."
Frankstaredatthecrispbluefive-poundnoteinhishand,longingtotearitintoshredsandflingtheminPaddy’sface,butcustomwonagain;hefoldedit,putitinhisfobpocketandthankedhisfather.Hecouldn’tgetoutofthebarquicklyenough.
Inhisbestbluesuit,waistcoatbuttoned,goldwatchsecuredbyagoldchainandaweightmadefromanuggetofftheLawrencegoldfields,Paddytuggedathiscelluloidcollarandlookeddownthebarforafacehemightrecognize.HehadnotbeenintoGillyveryoftenduringtheninemonthssincehearrivedonDrogheda,buthispositionasMaryCarson’sbrotherandheirapparentmeantthathehadbeentreatedveryhospitablywheneverhehadbeenintown,andthathisfacewaswellremembered.Severalmenbeamedathim,voicesofferedtoshouthimabeer,andhewassooninthemiddleofacomfortablelittlecrowd;Frankwasforgotten.
