y civil; but there was a look in
his eyes which Gallagher did not like and the tone in which he spoke
suggested that he meant to be impudent.

"I'll take no back talk from you," said Gallagher. "What tune is it?"

"I don't know what tune it is," said Kerrigan.

"You're a liar," said Gallagher. "You know well what tune it is."

"Speak civil now, Thady," said Doyle, "speak civil to the boy."

"I may be a liar," said Kerrigan, "but it's the truth I told you this
minute. And liar or no liar it's the truth I'll speak now, when I tell
you that I'm not near as damned a liar as yourself, Mr. Gallagher. So
there's for you. What do you mean by telling the American gentleman that
I was married to Mary Ellen and her with twins? Was that a lie now or
was it not? Twins! Cock the like of that one up with twins! If I'm a
liar I'd tell more sensible lies than that."

"Whisht, now, whisht," said Doyle. "Sure if Mr. Gallagher said that,
isn't the girl a cousin of his own, and hadn't he the best right to say
it?"

"Come along out of this," said Gallagher.

"The sooner you're gone the better I'll be pleased," said Kerrigan.

"And let me tell you this, Mr. Kerrigan, junior. You'll be sorry for
this day's work for the longest day ever you live. When the League boys
hear, and they will hear, about the tune that you mean to play----"

"Come along now, Thady," said Doyle. "Come along. You've enough said.
We're late for the meeting of the committee already, and we'll be later
yet if you don't come on. You wouldn't like to keep Father McCormack
waiting on you."

"I've had enough of your committee," said Gallagher. "What's your statue
only foolishness?"

"Sure everybody knows that," said Doyle.

"And what's your Lord-Lieutenant only----"

"Come on, now," said Doyle, "isn't it for the benefit of the town we're
doing it? And it's yourself that's always to the fore when there's good
work to be done."

"I will not go with you," said Gallagher.

They had passed through Kerrigan's shop and reached the street, when
Gallagher delivered this ultimatum. Doyle hesitated. He was already late
for the committee meeting. If he waited to coax Gallagher out of his bad
temper he might miss the meeting altogether. He looked at the door of
the hotel. Father McCormack was standing at it, waiting, perhaps, for
him and Gallagher.

"Come now, Thady," he said, "have sense. Don't you see Father McCormack
waiting for you?"

"I see him," said Gallagher.