e climbing the embankment together.

"I don't see," said Sir James, "what your wife has to do with the
matter."

"By this time to-morrow," said Michael, "you will see; if so be you're
married by then, which is what Miss Molly said you will be."

His wife, with Molly after her, climbed into the carriage.

"Michael," she said, "did the young lady tell you she's to be married
to-morrow?"

"She did tell me," he said, "and I'm sorry for her. But what can I do?
If I was to take that engine into Dunadea they'd call me a blackleg the
longest day ever I lived."

"I'd call you something a mighty deal worse if you don't," said his
wife. "You and your strikes! Strikes, Moyah! And a young lady wanting to
be married!"

Michael turned apologetically to Sir James.

"Women does be terrible set on weddings," he said, "and that's a fact."

"That'll do now, Michael," said Molly; "stop talking and put the two
bikes on the tender, and poke up your old fires or what ever it is you
do to make your engine go."

"Molly," said Sir James, when Michael and his wife had left the
carriage, "I've drawn up a note for the Prime Minister advising the
establishment of a special Ministry of Strikes for Ireland. I feel that
the conditions in this country are so peculiar that our London office
cannot deal with them. I think perhaps I'd better suggest that he should
put you at the head of the new office."

"Your visit to Ireland is doing you good already," said Molly. "You're
developing a sense of humour."

III. THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE

Dr. Farelly, Medical Officer of Dunailin, volunteered for service with
the R.A.M.C. at the beginning of the war. He had made no particular
boast of patriotism. He did not even profess to be keenly interested
in his profession or anxious for wider experience. He said, telling the
simple truth, that life at Dunailin was unutterably dull, and that he
welcomed war--would have welcomed worse things--for the sake of escaping
a monotony which was becoming intolerable.

The army authorities accepted Dr. Farelly. The local Board of Guardians,
which paid him a salary of L200 a year, agreed to let him go on the
condition that he provided a duly qualified substitute to do his work
while he was away. There a difficulty faced Dr. Farelly. Duly qualified
medical men, willing to take up temporary jobs, are not plentiful in war
time. And the job he had to offer--Dr. Farelly was painfully conscious
of the fact--was not a