Amongst Women

The night before Moran’s wedding, his daughters are worried that their lives will change in ways they don’t yet understand. Moran and Rose’s wedding is small, and her family hosts the reception in their house, which is unheard of and embarrassing for them. Moran’s children’s uncle arrives late and leaves early.

After the wedding, Moran’s daughters show Rose around the house. They serve Moran his tea while he sits quietly, privately thinking about how disappointed he is that life happens so quickly and without excitement. The girls and Rose “[are] already conspirators. They [are] mastered and yet they [are] controlling together what they [are] mastered by” (46).

Rose changes everyone’s lives. She fills the role of homemaker and redecorates the house to make it homier. Moran’s eldest daughter, Maggie, now has little to do around the house. Rose suggests to Moran that at age 19, Maggie should have her own life, such as marriage or work. She suggests that Maggie be sent to England to become a nurse. Rose is careful with her suggestion because she has heard about how Luke tried to convince Moran of the same thing.