Nora Webster

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains a brief mention of wartime imprisonment.

In the summer, Fiona finds a temporary job in London and often writes about how much fun she is having. Meanwhile, Conor and Donal often visit the local tennis club, and Aine studies Irish in Kerry but returns occasionally to look after her brothers. On weekends, Nora spends time with her sons and reflects on the drastic changes that have crept in over the last year. She also worries about how her boys are processing their grief. When Fiona returns, she brings home many fashionable clothes, and Nora is not sure whether the London fashions will fit in “down here” (107) in rural Ireland. From the family’s reaction, she suspects that her sisters and daughters are talking about her behind her back. She wonders whether they are excluding her, or whether she excluded them when Maurice was sick.

Nora’s brother-in-law, Jim, is a political man who fought in the War of Independence and was interned during the Civil War. Jim’s wife, Margaret, earns more than he does, and together, they enjoy spending their money on Nora’s children. Now, they offer to buy a camera for Donal, who has taken a real interest in photography.