tell him that
this is a seaport town with no proper pier. With that information any
fool could draw up the text of an illuminated address. I propose that
the matter be left in the hands of a subcommittee consisting of Mr.
Doyle."

"Are you all agreed on that, gentlemen?" said Father McCormack.

Thady Gallagher rose slowly to his feet.

"With regard to what Mr. Doyle has just laid before the meeting," he
said, "and speaking of the duty of supporting Irish manufacture, I'm of
opinion that his words do him credit. I'm an out and out supporter of
the Industrial Revival, and when I look round about me on the ruined
mills that once were hives of industry, and the stream of emigration
which is flowing from our shores year after year------"

"I don't think we need spend much time discussing the bouquet," said Dr.
O'Grady. "It'll have to be ordered from Dublin too."

"There's no flowers here to make a bouquet of," said Doyle, "unless,
maybe, the Major----"

"I've a few Sweet-Williams," said the Major, "and a bed of mixed stocks.
If you think they'd be any use to you you're welcome to them."

"We might do worse," said Father McCormack.

"We'll have to do better," said Dr. O'Grady. "You can't offer a lady in
the position of a Lord-Lieutenant's wife a bundle of ordinary stocks!
What we have to get is lilies and roses."

"It's only right that we should," said Father McCormack, "but I think
the thanks of the meeting ought to be given to Major Kent for his
generous offer."

"I second that," said Doyle. "The Major was always a good friend to
anything that might be for the benefit of the town or the locality."

"The ordering of the bouquet," said Dr. O'Grady, "to be left to the same
sub-committee which has charge of the address."

"And it to be sent to the hotel here," said Father McCormack, "on the
morning of the ceremony, so as it will be fresh. Are you all agreed on
that, gentlemen? What's the next business, doctor?"

"The next business is the statue."

"What's the date of the Lord-Lieutenant's visit?" said the Major.

"Thursday week," said Dr. O'Grady.

"That's ten days from to-day," said the Major. "We may just as well go
home at once as sit here talking to each other. There's no time to get a
statue."

"We'll do our business before we stir," said Dr. O'Grady.

"What's the use of saying things like that?" said the Major. "You
know jolly well, O'Grady, that you can't get a statue in ten days. The
thing's impos