us as we passed
through on our way from Donard. When Simpkins sneaked back at about
six o'clock this evening, looking like a whipped dog, there was sure to
have been a large crowd to meet him. I said he was to tell Doyle the
result as he passed; but whether he did or not, Doyle is sure to have
found it out before night. How do you suppose Simpkins will be
feeling?"

The Major chuckled.

"And what do you suppose will happen?" said Meldon.

"I don't know. They'll laugh at him, I expect."

"Laugh isn't the word," said Meldon. "They'll get out the town band
and play tunes under his window half the night. He won't be able to
put his nose outside the door without being met by a tribe of small
boys grinning. There isn't a woman or a girl in the place, from Sabina
Gallagher up, but will be making fun of him. Doyle and O'Donoghue and
all the police will call round to condole with him. No man could stand
it for a week. He'll go to-morrow, and have his luggage sent after
him. That's the way my plan has worked out with regard to Simpkins,
and I've no reason to be ashamed of it."

"I'm glad you look at it that way, J. J. I was afraid perhaps--"

"You needn't have been. I'm not one of those small-minded men who
allow themselves to be tied to details, and are irritated because
things don't go exactly as they expect. I look to the real object, the
great ultimate end which I hope to achieve. As long as that comes off
all right I don't worry myself about trifles. In this case I
consider--and everybody who takes a large view will also consider--that
I have been entirely successful. And now let's talk of something else.
I'll marry you, of course."

"We both hope you will," said the Major.

"Right. That's settled. What about bridesmaids?"

"We haven't gone into that yet."

"You must have bridesmaids, of course. And I don't think you could do
better than your own god-daughter. She'll be over the whooping-cough
by that time, I hope."

"I'd like that very much," said the Major. "But isn't she rather
small?"

"Not at all. She can be led up the aisle immediately behind the bride.
Sabina Gallagher can lead her. I'm going to engage Sabina as nurse and
general servant. Now that Simpkins is going, Doyle can get that
red-haired girl, Sabina's cousin. She'll do him quite well for all he
wants. And he never properly appreciated Sabina. Shall we regard that
as settled?"

"I suppose it will be all right."