Part 3, Chapter 20 Summary

Meet Irene Walsh, crusty old housekeeper at St Cat's, and a long-standing old catholic relic of Empire Falls. Daughter of a military father, she sees religion in black and white terms defined primarily by discipline and hardship. It is important that everyone know his place and his role and does not strive to be something else. Life is about action and results, according to Irene, and she has no tolerance for contemplation. In her mind, .."there is no end to contemplation, no fixed time period after which thought had to be turned into action. Contemplation was like sitting on a committee that seldom made recommendations and was ignored when it did, a committee that lacked even the authority to disband." Irene recognizes that old Tom is batty-he showed up at dinner one time with no trousers-but he doesn't get in her...