“I don’t know,” said Doyle. “I’ve more to do than to be listening to tunes. Mary Ellen, can you not see that there’s three corks out of porter bottles underneath the table? Will you take them out of it now, like a good girl?”
“I’m not satisfied in my mind about that tune,” said Gallagher.
“What harm is there in it?”
“I don’t know yet is there any harm, but I don’t like it, and I’d be glad if I knew what tune it is. I have it in my mind that it’s a tune that ought not to be played.”
“Mary Ellen,” said Doyle, “what tune is it that young Kerrigan’s playing?”
“How would I know?” said Mary Ellen.
“Well, put down that sweeping brush,” said Doyle. “For all the good you’re doing with it you might as well never have taken it up. I never seen such a girl. Put it down now and run across to Constable Moriarty, who’s standing at the door of the barrack——”
“I’d be ashamed,” said Mary Ellen, “so I would.”
“If you’re not ashamed of the state this room’s in,” said Doyle, “it would take more than Moriarty to shame you. Run along now, when you’re bid, and ask him what tune it is that Kerrigan’s playing.”
Mary Ellen, who hoped that the interruption might put an end to the sweeping once for all, left the room.