it; but there are
three hooks in the back of your blouse that aren't fastened. It's
an awfully nice blouse, but as you have it on at present it's
rather--rather--well degage."

"I started in such a hurry," said Mrs. Gregg. "The moment I heard----"

"If you go into the hotel," said Dr. O'Grady, "you'll find a
looking-glass. You'll be able to inspect the bouquet too. It's in a jug
of water under the counter in------ You take her, Father McCormack, and
find the bouquet for her."

Father McCormack was not listening. He was looking at a large motor-car
which had just drawn up at the far end of the street, leading into the
square.

"It's him after all," he said.

"It's who?" said Dr. O'Grady, turning round.

The crowd which was pressing round the statue began to edge away from
it. Men were standing on tiptoe, straining their necks to see over their
fellows' heads. Everybody began to move towards the motorcar. A loud
cheer burst from the people nearest to it.

"It's him sure enough," said Father McCormack.

"It's the Lord-Lieutenant," said Doyle excitedly. "Bedamn, but this is
great! We'll be all right now."

"It can't possibly be the Lord-Lieutenant," said Dr. O'Grady. "He'd
never change his mind twice in the same morning."

A tall man, very well dressed in a long frock-coat and a shiny silk
hat, stood up in the motor. The crowd cheered again with tumultuous
enthusiasm.

"It must be the Lord-Lieutenant," said Mrs. Gregg ecstatically. "Oh,
will someone please hook up my blouse?"

"There's nobody else it could be," said Doyle. "Come on now, till we
go to meet him. Come on, Father. Come you, Major. Doctor, will you go
first? It's you knows the proper way to speak to the likes of him."

But Father McCormack had a strong sense of his own dignity, and was
convinced that the Church had a right to precedence on all ceremonial
occasions. He walked, hat in hand, towards the stranger in the motorcar.
The people divided to let him pass. Major Kent and Doyle followed him.
Dr. O'Grady stood still. Mrs. Gregg ran over to Mary Ellen and begged
her to hook up the back of the degage blouse. Young Kerrigan mustered
the town band. The members had strayed a little through the crowd,
but at the summons of their leader they gathered in a circle. Kerrigan
looked eagerly at Dr. O'Grady awaiting the signal to strike up "Rule
Britannia." Dr. O'Grady, unable to make himself heard through the
cheering of the people, signalled a frantic n