Ireland in Travail

IRELAND IN TRAVAIL
TO E. A. N. AND G. M. L.
BY JOICE M. NANKIVELL AUTHOR OF “THE SOLITARY PEDESTRIAN”
AND SYDNEY LOCH AUTHOR OF “THE STRAITS IMPREGNABLE”
LONDON JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W. 1922
All rights reserved
IRELAND IN TRAVAIL
In the wonderful August weather of 1920, my wife and I were in our London flat sighing for cooler places. The season had come to an end with less than its usual glory, and for days taxis and growlers, topheavy with luggage, had been carrying fleeing Londoners to country and to sea. The holidays had begun; but England, still limping from the late war, had lost the holiday spirit: indeed the world was restless as if it had come through painful convulsions to kick spasmodically for a while. We were restless too.
Ireland was one of the world’s sores. It was near at hand. Should we go and see for ourselves? The middle of August had come, and we could not make up our minds.
On the hottest of those mornings I wandered into Hyde Park, and where the riders turn their horses about, on the very last chair of the row, leaning forward, rubbing his chin on his stick, I came across 47—Agent of the secret service. He had seen me coming along, and patted the next seat in invitation as if we had met yesterday.
“I thought you were at the other end of the world.”
He answered, “I’m here.”