It was the one topic of conversation throughout dinner.

And it was during that dinner that Angela for the first time really angered her father and raised a barrier between them that lasted until the day of his death.
The old man had laughed coarsely at the remembrance of his speech on the previous night, and licked his lips at the thought of it.
Monica, who was visiting her father for a few days smiled in agreeable sympathy.
Nathaniel nodded cheerfully.
From her father's side Angela asked quietly: "Have you ever been in Ireland, father ?" "No, I have not," answered the old man sharply: "And, what is more, I never intend to go there." "Do you know anything about, the Irish ?" persisted Angela.
"Do I?
More than the English government does.

Don't I own land there ?" "I mean do you know anything about the people ?" insisted Angela.
"I know them to be a lot of thieving, rascally scoundrels, too lazy to work, and too dishonest to pay their way, even when they have the money." "Is that all you know ?" "All!" He stopped eating to look angrily at his daughter.

The cross-examination was not to his liking.
Angela went on "Yes, father; is that all you know about the Irish ?" "Isn't it enough ?" His voice rose shrilly.

It was the first time for years anyone had dared use those two hated words "Ireland" and "Irish" at his table.