Chapter 2

WhentheClearyswenttochurchonSundays,Meggiehadtostayhomewithoneoftheolderboys,longingforthedaywhenshe,too,wouldbeoldenoughtogo.PadraicClearyheldthatsmallchildrenhadnoplaceinanyhousesavetheirown,andhisruleheldevenforahouseofworship.WhenMeggiecommencedschoolandcouldbetrustedtositstill,shecouldcometochurch.Notbefore.SoeverySundaymorningshestoodbythegorsebushatthefrontgate,desolate,whilethefamilypiledintotheoldshandrydanandthebrotherdelegatedtomindhertriedtopretenditwasagreattreatescapingMass.TheonlyClearywhorelishedseparationfromtherestwasFrank.

Paddy’sreligionwasanintrinsicpartofhislife.WhenhehadmarriedFeeithadbeenwithgrudgingCatholicapproval,forFeewasamemberoftheChurchofEngland;thoughsheabandonedherfaithforPaddy,sherefusedtoadopthisinitsstead.Difficulttosaywhy,exceptthattheArmstrongswereoldpioneeringstockofimpeccableChurchofEnglandextraction,wherePaddywasapennilessimmigrantfromthewrongsideofthePale.TherehadbeenArmstrongsinNewZealandlongbeforethefirst"official"settlersarrived,andthatwasapassporttocolonialaristocracy.FromtheArmstrongpointofview,Feecouldonlybesaidtohavecontractedashockingmésalliance.