t be the greatest Irishman that's ever lived," Marsh rejoined,
"if he'd only give a quarter of the devotion to Ireland that he gives to
ships."

"I suppose he thinks he's giving all his devotion to Ireland now ... and
he is really. Isn't he, John? His firm is famous all over the world, and
he's one of the men that have made it famous. It must be very fine for
him to think that he's doing big things for his country!"

Marsh nodded his head. "We're rather foolish about Belfast in Dublin,"
he said. "After all, real work is done here, isn't it? And the chief
industry of Dublin ... what is it? Absolutely unproductive! Porter!
Barrels and barrels of it, floating down the Liffey and nothing,
_nothing real_, floating back! I like that man Arthurs. I wish to heaven
we had him on our side!"

"He's a Unionist," Henry replied.

It occurred to Marsh, in the middle of his reflections on Tom Arthurs,
that he should ask Henry what he proposed to do for Ireland.

"I'd like to do work as big and fine as Arthurs does," he said.
"Wouldn't you, Henry?"

"Yes."

"What _do_ you propose to do, Henry?"

"I don't know. I haven't thought definitely about that sort of thing
yet. I've just imagined I'd like to do _something_. I'm afraid I can't
build ships!..."

"There are other things besides ships, Henry!"

"I know that. John, I'm going to say something that'll make you angry,
but I can't help that. When Tom Arthurs was showing us over the Island,
I couldn't help thinking that all that Gaelic movement was a frightful
waste of time!" Marsh made a gesture, but Henry would not let him speak.
"No, don't interrupt me, John," he said. "I must say what I feel. Look
at the Language class at Ballymartin. What's been the good of all the
work you put into it?"

"We've given them a knowledge of a national separateness, haven't we?"

"Have we? They were keener on the dances, John. I don't believe we've
done anything of the sort, and if we had, I think it would be a pity!"

"A pity! A pity to make the Irish people realise that they're Irish and
different from the English!"

"Oh, you won't agree, I know, John, but I think Tom Arthurs is doing
better work for Ireland than you are," Henry retorted.

"He's doing good work, very good work, but not better work than I am.
He's establishing an Irish industry, but I'm helping to establish an
Irish nation, an Irish soul!..."

"That's what you want to do, but I wonder whether it's what you are
doing,