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At the annual dance and dinner party held by Julia, Kate, and Mary Jane Morkan, the housemaid Lily frantically greets guests. Set at or just before the feast of the Epiphany on January 6, which celebrates the manifestation of Christ’s divinity to the Magi, the party draws together a variety of relatives, friends, and music students. Kate and Julia have been throwing this party for about 30 years, ever since they and their niece Mary Jane moved from Stoney Batter to their large house on Usher’s Island following the death of their brother Pat. Mary Jane was very young when they made the move but she has since become the chief breadwinner in their home—she gives organ lessons to many wealthy pupils. Theirs is a musical household; despite their advanced years, Julia is still the leading soprano in her choir and Kate gives piano lessons from their home.
Kate and Julia particularly await the arrival of their favorite nephew, Gabriel Conroy, and his wife, Gretta and continuously pester Lily to see if they have arrived yet. When they finally do, Gabriel attempts to chat with Lily as she takes his coat, but she snaps in reply to his question about her love life. Gabriel ends the uncomfortable exchange by giving Lily a generous tip, but the experience makes him anxious, particularly because he has known Lily since she was a young child. His anxiety continues as he contemplates his speech. He is worried that his Robert Browning references will make him look elitist because he has a superior education compared to most of the attendees. He relaxes when he joins his aunts and Gretta, but that relief is short-lived because Gretta’s good-natured teasing about his dedication to galoshes irritates him—especially because it prompts his aunts to laugh at him. They then discuss their decision to stay at a hotel that evening rather than make the long trip home in the snow.
The arrival of another guest, the always-drunk Freddy Malins, disrupts the conversation between Gabriel, his wife, and his aunts. Kate immediately asks Gabriel to see to Freddy because she does not want his inebriated state to frighten Mary Jane’s students. Gabriel agrees and leaves to make sure that Freddy is fit to join the party while the rest of guests chat over drinks in between dances. While Gabriel is dealing with Freddy, an older gentleman named Mr. Browne flirts with some young girls, who dodge his advances. Mr. Browne then attempts to impress both the young girls that he was flirting with and the younger men near the refreshments with how much whiskey he pours into his glass. The rest of the party guests discuss music and the next dance while Gabriel steers a drunken Freddy toward the drawing room. Once Gabriel and Freddy arrive, Mr. Browne goes to assist Gabriel and offers Freddy a lemonade to help sober him up.
