ved it."

"I wonder were they in the right!" said Father Greer, still pinching
his nose, and looking up at the Doctor over his knuckles.

"I don't see who we could find that'd do better," said Dr. Mangan,
apologetically. "He's well off, and he holds strong Nationalist
oping-ens; and then, of course, he's a Catholic."

"I'm told he didn't go to Mass since he came home"; Father Greet let
the statement fall without expression.

"Ah well, he's only just back from France. Give him a little time, and
he'll come to himself," said the Doctor, still apologetic.

"I understand he's been painting Miss Christian Talbot-Lowry's
portrait," pursued Father Greer, with limpid simplicity. "I'm told
she's as pretty a young girl as there is in this neighbourhood."

Whether this slight prod of the mahout's _ankus_ was, or was not,
intentional, it is not easy to say, but it took instant effect upon
the Big Doctor.

"There are other pretty young girls in the neighbourhood besides
Christian Lowry," he said sharply. "And maybe prettier! I don't think
it would give us much trouble to find one that Larry Coppinger would
be well satisfied with, and one that's in the bosom of the Church,
too!"

"I greatly deplore mixed marriages," said Father Greer; permitting his
eyes to meet those of Dr. Mangan. "I had hoped that in the case of
this young man beneficial influences might have been brought to
bear--"

"If you want to put a spoke in that wheel," interrupted the Doctor
with eagerness, "you'll support his nomination. I'll undertake to say
there won't be much talk of mixed marriages then!"

Father Greer's small eyes again rested for a second on the Doctor's
broad face, with its strong, overhanging brows and heavy under-jaw,
and drew his own conclusions from the confident smile that showed the
white teeth under the drooping, black moustache that had still
scarcely a grey hair in it.

"I was thinking that might be what he was after!" thought Father
Greer. "Well, he's a good warrant to play his hand well, and more
unsuitable things have occurred before now. Yet, didn't I hear
something--!" Even in thought Father Greer observed a studied
mildness and moderation, and there were contingencies which might
remain unformulated until they crystallised into certainty.

"I'll think it over, Doctor," he said. "I'm inclined to your view, of
the case, and I might be disposed to advocate the candidature of your
nominee. But,"--here Father Greer sniffed