a
little. She smiled.

"Mrs. Gregg says----" she said.

"If you're not outside the door and it shut after you before I've done
speaking I'll do what I've said and worse on top of that," said Doyle.

"I won't have Mary Ellen bullied," said Dr. O'Grady. "It's all you're
fit for, Doyle, to frighten helpless little girls. If you'd talked that
way to Billing when he was trying to run away without paying----"

"You're a nice one to talk about paying," said Doyle.

Dr. O'Grady left his seat and walked over lo the door.

"What is it now, Mary Ellen?" he said.

"Mrs. Gregg says," she said, "will I be wearing a hat or will I not?"

"Go back to Mrs. Gregg," said Dr. O'Grady, "and tell her that you will
not wear a hat, but you'll have your hair tied up with a green silk
ribbon to match your stockings. Would you like that?"

"I'd as soon have a hat," said Mary Ellen, "and Mr. Moriarty says------"

"Surely to goodness," said Dr. O'Grady, "he hasn't been helping to order
your clothes!"

"He has not," said Mary Ellen, "but he was outside the barrack and me
coming along the street----"

"He always is," said Dr. O'Grady.

"And he said to me that it wouldn't do for me to be dressed up any way
foolish like."

"Let Constable Moriarty mind his own business," said Dr. O'Grady. "You
go back and tell Mrs. Gregg what I say."

The other members of the committee sat listening with amazed interest to
all Dr. O'Grady said to Mary Ellen. Even Doyle was too much astonished
to attempt an interruption. He said nothing till the doctor, having
dismissed Mary Ellen, returned to the table. Then he spoke.

"And who's going to pay for the green ribbon which is to go along with
the stockings? Who's going to pay for it? That's what I'm asking you.
You needn't be thinking that I will."

"Gentlemen," said Dr. O'Grady, "I owe you all an apology. I'm afraid I
lost my temper for a minute or two. Father McCormack, I beg your pardon,
and if I said--as I fear I did say--anything disrespectful to you as
chairman----"

"Don't speak another word, Doctor," said Father McCormack, "you've said
enough. Sure anyone might have been betrayed into a strong expression
when he was provoked. Not that you said a word to me that you've any
reason to be sorry for."

"Major Kent," said Dr. O'Grady, "if I've in any way insulted you----"

"Not worse than usual," said Major Kent. "I'm quite accustomed to it."

"Mr. Doyle," said the doctor, "I'm afraid that in the