at."

"Who is she?" said Father Mctormack.

"It's Mrs. Gregg," said Mary Ellen, "and it's the doctor she's asking
for."

"The doctor's not here," said Father McCormack. "Can't you see that for
yourself?"

"If it's Mrs. Gregg," said the Major, "you'd better show her up. You
can't leave her standing by herself in the hall till the doctor chooses
to come. I wish to goodness he would come. I can't think why he isn't
here. This is his show entirely."

Mrs. Gregg came into the room while the Major was speaking. She looked
agitated and, in spite of the fact that she had been waiting downstairs
for nearly ten minutes, was almost breathless.

"Oh, Major Kent," she said, "where's Dr. O'Grady? Such a dreadful thing
has happened. I don't know what to do. Just fancy--Mrs. Ford has written
to me----"

"There's no use appealing to me," said the Major. "I can't do anything
with Mrs. Ford. She and I are hardly on speaking terms. It's not my
fault--at least I don't think it is--but you must see Mrs. Gregg, that I
can't interfere about any letter she may have written to you."

Mrs. Gregg shook hands with Father McCormack, but her head was turned
away from him as she did so. She had little hope that he could interfere
effectually to settle the difficulty created by Mrs. Ford.

"Dr. O'Grady said that I----"

The Major interrupted her.

"You'd far better wait till the doctor comes," he said. "He'll be here
in a minute."

"But I can't wait. Mrs. Ford is down at the dress-maker's now. It'll be
too late if I wait. What am I to do? It will spoil the whole thing if
Mrs. Ford insists----"

Dr. O'Grady came in. He was whistling cheerfully, not "Rule, Britannia,"
but a harmless Irish jig.

"Hullo!" he said. "You here, Major. Good. And Father McCormack. There's
nothing like punctuality. And Mrs. Gregg. How do you do, Mrs. Gregg?
Everything going on all right about Mary Ellen's costume?"

"Oh, no, it isn't. But I'm so glad you've come. Mrs. Ford----"

"Excuse me one moment, Mrs. Gregg," said Dr. O'Grady. "I just want to
ask Father McCormack one question. Listen now, Father McCormack. Do you
know this tune?"

He began to whistle "Rule, Britannia." When he was about half way
through Mrs. Gregg interrupted him.

"I can't wait," said Mrs. Gregg. "I really can't. Mrs. Ford is at the
dressmaker's and----"

"I'll attend to that in one minute, Mrs. Gregg. But I must get Father
McCormack's opinion on this tune first. Doyle and Gallagh