his gold plate, Gilbert turned
to Mary and said out loud, "Ostentatious chap, Solomon! Anybody could
see he was a Jew!" and Mary burst out laughing. The Vicar was
frightfully sick about it, and jawed Gilbert after the service, and the
mater told Mary the truth about herself. I must say it was rather funny.
I very nearly laughed myself. Do be a decent chap and come over soon.
You'll just be in time for the mackerel fishing. Gilbert and Mary and I
went out with Jim Rattenbury yesterday and caught dozens._

_Your affectionate friend,_

_Ninian Graham._

Henry's reply was:

_Dear Ninian:_

_Thanks awfully. I'll come as soon as I can get away. I spoke to my
father to-night, and he says I can go to Boveyhayne. I'll send a
telegram to you, telling you when to expect me. I'm looking forward to
reading Gilbert's play. I hope he'll have more of it written by the time
I get to Boveyhayne. A page and a half isn't much, is it? and I don't
wonder you get sick of hearing it over and over. I shall have to write
something, too, but I don't know what to write about. We can talk of
that when we meet. It is awfully kind of Mrs. Graham to have me again.
Please thank her for me, and give my love to Mary and Gilbert, and tell
him not to be an old ass, yapping like that in church. No wonder the
vicar was sick._

_Your affectionate friend,_

_Henry Quinn._

THE NINTH CHAPTER

1

Three days later, Henry left Ballymartin and travelled to Belfast in the
company of John Marsh. In Belfast they were to separate: Marsh was to
return to Dublin and Henry was to cross by the night boat to Liverpool,
and proceed from there to London, and then on from Waterloo to
Boveyhayne. Marsh, a little sad because the Ballymartin classes must now
collapse, but greatly glad to return to the middle of Irish activities
in Dublin, had turned over in his mind what Mr. Quinn had said about
Henry's future, and he was wondering exactly what he should say to
Henry. They had several hours to spend in Belfast, and Marsh proposed
that they should visit the shipyards and, if they had time, inspect a
linen mill; and Henry, who had always felt great pride when he saw the
stocks and gantries of the shipyards and reflected that out of the
multitudinous activities of Ulster men the greatest ships in the world
were created, eagerly assented to Marsh's proposal. Mr. Quinn had given
them a letter of introduction to a member of the great firm of Harland
and