Redemption - Leon Uris [8]
For his brother, the priest Father Dary Larkin, there was a generous fund for Dary’s good works.
Try though he might, Liam could not carry out his philanthropies without a measure of revenge still attached to it. He guessed he was a hard shot. As Father Gionelli had told him years before, “It just doesn’t go away. We are never free of our blood.”
Liam realized that there was only one way to find an accommodation with his childhood, and that was to be certain his own children would not suffer from him.
He and Mildred often spoke in terms of advanced thinking for his times. The daughters, Spring and Madge, were coming into courting age. Unfortunately, they were behind the door when good looks were passed out. Yet all was not lost: The girls were nice young ladies and not only inherited their mother’s ampleness but her pleasant manner and keen mind as well.
Although, please God, they would never interfere or try to dictate the girls’ lives, Millie was certain that with Squire Larkin’s strong name they would be attractive beyond their physical liabilities. Liam and Mildred had come to a unique idea that there was nothing wrong with daughters inheriting land. It would mean marrying men with different names, but Ballyutogue Station would always be over the entry arch.
Liam even dared to take it one step further. If, God forbid, Madge and Spring fell in love with Protestants, and they were decent Protestants, they would be welcomed as sons-in-law. Of course the grandchildren would have to be raised in the True Faith.
He christened Tommy, proudly named after his daddy, Tomas Larkin. Alas, resemblances to his father were only name deep. Tommy seemed to have the bottom half of everyone’s traits. He was a good lad, mind you, a strong and rough-hewn number. He had all of Liam’s dull and awkward ways but none of his peasant’s instincts.
Because unconsciously Tommy reminded Liam of himself, and because consciously Liam knew he had to put wisdom and field smarts into the boy’s head, the two became plastered together indelibly. Liam’s heart of hearts cried silently because Tommy had a hundred-acre limitation.
Tommy would be schooled and schooled hard. He had to be pushed through so he could live a life of quality. It would be a chore. If worse came to worst there would always be something for him at the station.
So there it was, Madge and Spring with good husbands who would have shares in the station. So long as it was overseen by a Larkin, all would be in good order.
Yes, Mildred and Liam talked of it often. They would not manipulate the lives of their children the way they had been manipulated. They would not be played off one against the other for land. Wisdom and guidance, and all would be well.
Everything was in hand for Squire Larkin except for one small matter. The operation of the station would rightfully go to his oldest, Wee Rory, and Rory was a man equal to the task.
However, there were slight problems with Rory and his wild ways with the girls and his hell-raising and growing wanderlust. Ah, he’d calm down. He did love the land and from the junior lads on up to manhood, he was winner of every kind of shearing and riding and roping and breeding prize the South Island had to offer.
And, a rugby hero to boot.
Shyte, if truth be known, Liam had spent many an hour with Father Gionelli steeped in worry over Rory. On a turn of the ha’penny, Liam’s worry turned to fear.
War had broken out in Europe. In that instant, remote and placid New Zealand changed. The seemingly tranquil lads in this faraway countryside were suddenly charged with war fever and were queuing up for blocks outside the recruiting stations.
It made no sense. New Zealand had no quarrel with Germans or Austrians and none had ever seen a Turk. Why in the name of Jesus and Mary should they rush off like a mob to die for the British Empire? What would they find out there that could hold a candle to the life in New Zealand?
Young men