or the people's
confidence. When he had finished she said, very slowly, and with that
extreme distinctness of articulation which women speakers seem to learn
so much more easily than men:

'Are you prepared to give any portion of the money entrusted to you by
the Irish people to assist the Boers in their struggle for freedom?'

Mr. O'Rourke was goaded into attempting another speech, but the audience
was in no mood to listen to him. He was interrupted again and again with
shouts of 'Yes or no!' 'Answer the question!' The bantering tone with
which they had plied him earlier in the evening with suggestions for a
menu had changed now into angry insistence. He passed his hand over his
forehead with a gesture of despair, and sat down. At once the tumult
ceased, and the people waited breathless for Augusta Goold to speak
again.

'Are you prepared'--she seemed to have learnt her question off by
heart--'to give any portion of the money entrusted to you by the Irish
people to assist the Boers in their struggle for freedom?'

Mr. Shea, a red-headed member of Parliament from Co. Limerick, being
himself one of those most deeply interested in the contents of the
party's purse, sprang to his feet. It was clear that he was in a
condition of almost dangerous excitement, for he stammered, as he
shouted to the chairman:

'Sir, is this--this--this woman to be allowed to interrupt the meeting?
I demand her immediate removal.'

Augusta Goold smiled at him. It was really a very gracious, almost a
tender, smile. One might imagine the divine Theodora in her earlier days
smiling with just such an expression on a plebeian lover whose passion
she regarded as creditable to him but hopeless.

'I assure you, Mr. Shea, that I shall not interrupt the business for
more than a minute. Mr. O'Rourke has only got to say one word--either
Yes or No. Are you prepared to give any portion of the funds entrusted
to you by the Irish people to assist the Boers in their struggle for
freedom?'

Mr. Shea was not at all mollified either by the smile or the politeness
of her tone.

'We shall not permit the meeting to be interrupted any more,' he
shouted. 'Either you will withdraw at once, or we shall have you removed
by force.'

She smiled at him again--a pitying smile, as if she regretted the
petulance of his manner, and turned to the chairman.

'Are you prepared to give----'

Then Mr. Shea's feelings became too strong for his self-control. He
sprang f