er from
every point of view, and then snorted with intense disapproval.

"Your mother wouldn't know you," he said.

Mary Ellen smiled. She was greatly pleased at her own appearance and
chose to take Moriarty's remark as a compliment.

"She might not," she said, in a tone of evident delight.

Moriarty intended to say more; but at that moment the town band began
to play. Young Kerrigan had collected the members of it early in the day
and kept them in a group outside his father's shop. The arrival of Mary
Ellen seemed to him to be a suitable occasion for a tune. He gave a
signal and the band struck up. "Rich and Rare Were the Gems She Wore"
was the tune on which they chanced. It was remarkably appropriate. The
band marched twice round the statue playing that tune. With the last
note it came to rest again in its old position outside Kerrigan's shop.
Then Thady Gallagher came out of his office. He walked over and looked
at Mary Ellen.

"If you're not ashamed of yourself," he said, "you ought to be."

"I am not, then," said Mary Ellen.

Gallagher turned to Moriarty.

"You're sure now," he said, "that the tune the band is to play is the
one you told me."

Moriarty grinned malevolently.

"I am sure," he said.

"For if you're playing any kind of a trick on me----"

"I am not. Amn't I wanting to get my knife into the doctor the same as
yourself?"

"And why would you want that?"

"It's on account of the way he has Mary Ellen dressed up. Will you look
at the girl?"

Gallagher looked at her again, long and carefully.

"Play acting!" said Moriarty, "and she's a respectable girl. It's not
decent, so it's not."

"If the tune's what you say it is," said Gallagher, "it'll not be played
in Ballymoy to-day nor any other day. I'll put the fear of God into
young Kerrigan before he's an hour older."

Moriarty grinned again. It seemed that, with the aid of Gallagher, he
was going to hit Dr. O'Grady on a vital spot. He understood that great
importance was attached to the performance of "Rule, Brittania" by the
band. Gallagher walked across to young Kerrigan.

"I know now," he said, "what the tune is you're meaning to play."

"If you know that," said Kerrigan, "you know more than I do."

"None of your lies now. Constable Moriarty is after telling me the name
of the tune."

"If you know it," said Kerrigan, "maybe you'll tell me. Not that I care
what the name of it is, for it's a good tune, name or no name."

"You wi