Dr. O’Grady hurried on. His next stop was at the door of Kerrigan’s shop. The elder Kerrigan was leaning against the wooden slab on which he was accustomed to cut up joints. He was smoking a pipe.
“Where’s your son?” said Dr. O’Grady.
“He’s within in the back yard,” said Kerrigan.
“Tell him I want to see him.”
“I’m not sure can he come to you; for he’s taking the skin off a sheep that he’s just after slaughtering.”
“Let him wash his hands,” said Dr. O’Grady. “The sheep can wait.”
“I’m not sure will he come,” said Kerrigan. “He’s not overly much pleased with you this minute, doctor, and that’s the truth.”
“What’s the matter with him?”
“It’s on account of your saying that he was thinking of getting married to Mary Ellen.”
“It was Gallagher said that. I’d nothing to do with it one way or the other.”