He plied his father with questions, and heard what the old man knew of the gossip of the village--how Thady Durkan had broken his arm, and talked of giving up the fishing; how the police from Letter-frack had found, or said they found, a whisky-still behind the old castle; how a Gaelic League organizer had come round persuading the people to sing and dance at the Galway Feis.
After supper Hyacinth nerved himself to tell the story of his term in college, and his determination to leave the divinity school.

More than once he made an effort to begin, but the old man, who brightened a little during their meal, relapsed again into dreaminess, and did not seem to be listening to him.

They pulled their chairs near to the fire, and Mr.Conneally sat holding his son's hand fast.

Sometimes he stroked or patted it gently, but otherwise he seemed scarcely to recognise that he was not alone.

His eyes were fixed on the fire, but they stared strangely, as if they saw something afar off, something not in the room at all.