ly to become violent or to do any harm either to himself or
anyone else. It was not clear why Mrs. Finnegan, who seemed a kindly
woman, should wish to have him shut up. It was very difficult to imagine
any reason for the action of the police in the matter. Constable Malone
had discovered the existence of the boy in this remote place. Sergeant
Rahilly had taken a great deal of trouble in preparing papers for his
committal to the asylum, and had driven out to Ballygran on a most
inclement day. Dr. Lovaway wished he understood what was happening.

Finnegan, having left Patsy Doolan's mare, and apparently Patsy Doolan
himself in the shed, came into the house.

Dr. Lovaway appealed to him.

"It doesn't seem to me," he said, "that this boy ought to be sent to an
asylum. I shall be glad to hear anything you have to tell me about him."

"Well now," said Mr. Finnegan, "he's a good, quiet kind of a boy, and if
he hasn't too much sense there's many another has less."

"That's what I think," said Dr. Lovaway.

Jimmy stopped blowing the fire and looked round suddenly.

"Sure, I know well you're wanting to put me away," he said.

"It's for your own good," said the sergeant.

"It'll do him no harm anyway," said Finnegan, "if so be he's not kept
there."

"Kept!" said the sergeant. "Is it likely now that they'd keep a boy
like Jimmy? He'll be out again as soon as ever he's in. I'd say now a
fortnight is the longest he'll be there."

"I wouldn't like," said Finnegan, "that he'd be kept too long. I'll be
wanting him for spring work, but I'm willing to spare him from this till
Christmas if you like."

Dr. Lovaway, though a young man and constitutionally timid, was capable
of occasional firmness.

"I'm certainly not going to certify that boy as a lunatic," he said.

"Come now, doctor," said the sergeant persuasively, "after coming so far
and the wet day and all. What have you to do only to put your name at
the bottom of a piece of paper? And Jimmy's willing to go. Aren't you,
Jimmy?"

"I'll go if I'm wanted to go," said Jimmy.

The water boiled. Mrs. Finnegan was spreading butter on long slices cut
from a home-baked loaf. It was Jimmy who took the kettle from the hook
and filled the teapot.

"Mrs. Finnegan," said Dr. Lovaway, "why do you want the boy put into an
asylum?"

"Is it me wanting him put away?" she said. "I want no such thing. The
notion never entered my head, nor Michael's either, who's been like a
father t