Chapter 8 Summary

By the New Year, the Clearys have still not moved into the big house, despite the lure of indoor toilets and fresh, hot water for baths and cleaning. Fiona is determined to redecorate, at least, the drawing room before the move. At the beginning of December, Father Ralph, in his role as administrator, has sent Paddy a check for five thousand pounds. That was almost more than Paddy earned in his entire life.

The second week in January, while packing, Fiona discovered a small news item in an old copy of Smith's Weekly that no one had time to read. The item was dated December 6, 1925, more than three years ago. It reported that Francis Armstrong Cleary, 26, a boxer by profession, was convicted of the murder of Ronald Cumming, a laborer. Cleary was sentenced to life in jail. "Asked if he had anything to...