Read Online Rebel Sisters by Marita Conlon-Mckenna - Free Book Online

not a part.
    She joined Grace and Ada in the huge Palace of Industries with its arts and craft section where there was a great array of paintings and sculpture on view, including works by Father’s friend John B. Yeats and by Grace’s tutor William Orpen. Mother was fascinated by the displays of exquisite lace and embroidery, and the silver-and glasswork.
    Down by the lake Nellie, Grace and Sidney decided to hire a small swan boat. It was bliss listening to the open-air concert, given by a fine orchestra, as they rowed around the central lake in the sunshine.
    Afterwards Mother insisted that they view the Somali Village, where a group of native Somali men and women, who wore hardly any clothing, went about their daily African village routine, lighting fires with sticks and cow dung as large crowds gathered to watch them.
    â€˜They must find it so chilly here compared to their own warm land,’ observed Mother.
    â€˜Those poor people must feel like monkeys in the zoo with everyone gawping at them!’ retorted Sidney angrily as the Somali women began to sing, their strange African music filling the air.
    â€˜Lady Aberdeen has a wonderful stand with a display on tuberculosis and its management which we all should visit,’ Mother announced. Father and Gabriel beat a hasty retreat in the other direction, but the rest accompanied her to the display.
    â€˜It is a scourge, a very scourge!’ Mother reminded them as they studied the information and figures on tuberculosis, which was endemic in Dublin and throughout the country. Muriel had a special interest in Lady Aberdeen’s display as she had recently applied to train as a probationer nurse in Sir Patrick Dun’s Hospital and hoped to be offered a place there.
    â€˜What if you have patients with this awful disease?’ worried Mother, who had made no secret of her opposition to Muriel studying nursing.
    As they were all beginning to tire, Father suggested they take a seat in the open-air tea-rooms, where they enjoyed tall dishes piled high with Italian glacé ice-cream flavoured with almonds, cherries and chocolate while they took their ease and considered their illustrated programmes.
    â€˜Now I understand why the king was so impressed,’ Father said proudly as they looked around at the vast acres of the exhibits. ‘It is no wonder that he wanted to reward Mr William Martin Murphy with a knighthood for all his good work organizing this spectacle.’
    â€˜God bless the king,’ interjected Gabriel, laughing, ‘but he must have got a bit of a shock when he produced his sword to knight Mr Murphy and he politely declined.’
    â€˜The man is an absolute disgrace, not only to insult the king but also to cause such embarrassment during the royal visit,’ declared Mother angrily.
    Nellie wondered why on earth Mr Murphy, one of Dublin’s most powerful citizens, who not only owned the Dublin Tram Company but also Independent Newspapers and was the driving force behind this exhibition of modern industry and innovation, would refuse such a royal honour.
    â€˜Perhaps he sets no store by a British or royal title,’ she suggested.
    â€˜Sir Murphy … Lord William Murphy …’ giggled Sidney. ‘Why, it doesn’t even sound right!’
    â€˜Well, title or not, Mr Murphy and his fellow organizers deserve huge credit for the planning of this magnificent event,’ said Father as a waiter cleared their table. ‘So let us go and see more of the many amusements on offer.’
    Nellie and her sisters joined the enormous queue for the famous Giant Water Chute, which towered above them into the sky. Muriel gripped her hand as their painted boat was raised up and up, climbing an alarming height to the top of the steep chute. The two of them screamed madly as they were suddenly pitched downwards in a terrifying, soaking plunge into the splashing water below. It left them gasping and laughing and