fact that it is highly inconvenient, if not actually
impossible, to keep two quarrels burning briskly at the same time.
When, a week or two before, Mrs. Ford had been seriously angry with
Mrs. Gregg, she confided her grievances to Dr. O'Grady. Now that she was
annoyed with him she would be compelled to condone Mrs. Gregg's offence
in order to tell her what Dr. O'Grady had done. In due time, so Dr.
O'Grady knew, he would be forgiven in order that he might listen to
the story of the quarrel, which by that time she would have picked with
Major Kent. Therefore the doctor's first impulse was to imitate the
Levite in the parable, and, having looked at Mrs. Ford with sympathy, to
pass by on the other side.

But Dr. O'Grady was engaged in a great enterprise. He did not see how
Mrs. Ford's anger could make or mar the success of the Lord-Lieutenant's
visit to Ballymoy, but he could not afford to take risks. No wise
general likes to leave even a small wood on the flank of his line of
march without discovering whether there is anything in it or not. Dr.
O'Grady determined to find out, if he could, what Mrs. Ford was sulking
about.

"I daresay you have heard," he said, "about the Lord-Lieutenant's visit
to Ballymoy. The date isn't fixed yet, but----"

Mrs. Ford sniffed and walked on without speaking. Dr. O'Grady was not
the kind of man who is easily baffled. He turned round and walked beside
her.

"I needn't tell you," he said, "that the visit may mean a good deal to
Mr. Ford. We've all felt for a long time that his services and ability
entitle him to some recognition from the Government."

Mrs. Ford was quite unmollified. She walked on without looking round.
She even walked a little quicker than she had been walking before. This
was a foolish thing to do. She was a fat and elderly lady. Some of
her clothes, if not all of them, were certainly too tight for her. The
doctor was young and in good condition. She could not possibly hope to
outstrip him in a race.

"My idea is," said Dr. O'Grady, "that when the Lord-Lieutenant meets Mr.
Ford and becomes personally acquainted with him--there's to be a lunch,
you know, in the hotel. A pretty good lunch, the best Doyle can do.
Well, I confidently expect that when the Lord-Lieutenant finds out for
himself what an able and energetic man Mr. Ford is---- After all, there
are much nicer places than Ballymoy, besides all the jobs there are
going under the Insurance Act, jolly well paid som