"And why not? Isn't it a pleasure to look at a handsome man?" she answered.
"I hope you gave him a good talking to. My mother says that Molly Healy is the one that can do that," he said.
"Wait until you are standing for Parliament, and then you will see what Molly Healy can do," she replied. "But you should look after that boy, or he will get into mischief so deep that there will be no getting him out."
"I have an eye on him, never fear," he said, and left her abruptly, to her infinite amusement.
"Denis Quirk has no manners, but he doesn't mean any harm," she told her brother. "It is only his way; a hard crust, but a good wholesome crumb."
That very morning Denis Quirk summoned Desmond into his room.
"See here," he said, "we are not teetotal on this paper, but we know where to stop. It's time you stopped. Make a note of that."
"Perhaps I had better go," cried Desmond in a passion.
"I don't actually say that, for there's good stuff in you, but if you can't behave, you can't go too soon," said Denis.