Gabriel explains that he and Gretta have booked a hotel room in the city rather than travel all the way home immediately, which the aunts agree is “by far the best thing to do” (379).

Their warmth helps him to relax as he is “their favorite nephew” (377), though they tease him about his choice of footwear. Gabriel finds his aunts talking to Gretta. He is anxious not only because of his encounter with Lily but because his speech is heavy with literary references which he fears may be lost on his audience, thereby making him seem “ridiculous” (377). Gabriel enters the house, still thinking about the speech he will need to deliver to the other guests. Feeling embarrassed, he tries to tip Lily, but she tries to refuse his money. She does not want to answer Gabriel's questions about her “young man” (376). Lily awkwardly welcomes them into the house. When Gabriel and Gretta finally reach the party, Gabriel explains that they are late because Gretta “takes three mortal hours to dress herself” (375). A servant named Lily greets the other guests as they arrive. He is the favorite nephew of Kate and Julia they eagerly await the arrival of Gabriel and Gretta, though the couple is running late. Gabriel is a teacher and, occasionally, a book reviewer.

They invite their friends and family, including their nephew Gabriel Conroy and his wife Gretta. Each year, the party is thrown “in splendid style” (373). Kate and Julia Morkan host a party around the time of the Christian celebration of Epiphany.

The dead james joyce analysis