d Gallagher, "we may as well give
him the preference. I'd be in favour of supporting local talent when
possible, and although Mr. Aloysius Doyle isn't a resident among us at
present, his family belongs to Ballymoy."

"Carried unanimously," said Father McCormack. "And now about the price.
What will that nephew of yours do us a statue for, Doyle? And mind you,
it must be done well."

"Before we go into that," said Dr. O'Grady, "I'd like the committee to
hear a letter which Mr. Doyle has received from his nephew. I thought it
well, considering how short the time at our disposal is----"

"Ten days," said the Major. "Ten days to make a statue----"

"The letter which we are just going to read," said Dr. O'Grady, "will
meet the Major's difficulty. I thought it well to get into communication
with Mr. Aloysius Doyle at once so as to have everything ready for the
committee."

"I wonder you haven't the statue ready," said the Major.

"I wrote to him, or rather I got Doyle to write to him, the day before
yesterday, and the letter you are now going to hear is his reply. I
may say that we laid the circumstances full before him; especially the
shortness of the time. You're not the only person who thought of that
difficulty, Major. Just read the letter, will you, Doyle?"

Doyle took up the letter which lay on the table in front of him and
unfolded it. He glanced at it and then put it down and began to fumble
in his pocket.

"Go ahead," said Dr. O'Grady.

"I can't," said Doyle. "This isn't that letter, but another one
altogether."

He drew his packet of papers from his pocket again and began to go
through them rapidly. There was a light tap at the door.

"Who on earth's that?" said Dr. O'Grady. "I said specially that this
meeting was not to be disturbed."

"Possibly Doyle's nephew," said the Major, "with a sample statue. He
ought to submit samples to us."

"Come in whoever you are," said Dr. O'Grady.

Mary Ellen half opened the door and put her head into the room. Dr.
O'Grady realised the moment he saw her that something must have gone
wrong in the dressmaker's shop. He assumed, without enquiry, that Mrs.
Ford had been making herself objectionable.

"What has Mrs. Ford done now?" said Dr. O'Grady. "I can't go to her till
this meeting is over."

"Mrs. Ford's off home this half hour," said Mary Ellen. "She said she
wouldn't put up with the nonsense that was going on."

This was a relief to Dr. O'Grady. If Mrs. Ford h