“We’ll have to do better,” said Dr. O’Grady. “You can’t offer a lady in the position of a Lord-Lieutenant’s wife a bundle of ordinary stocks! What we have to get is lilies and roses.”
“It’s only right that we should,” said Father McCormack, “but I think the thanks of the meeting ought to be given to Major Kent for his generous offer.”
“I second that,” said Doyle. “The Major was always a good friend to anything that might be for the benefit of the town or the locality.”
“The ordering of the bouquet,” said Dr. O’Grady, “to be left to the same sub-committee which has charge of the address.”
“And it to be sent to the hotel here,” said Father McCormack, “on the morning of the ceremony, so as it will be fresh. Are you all agreed on that, gentlemen? What’s the next business, doctor?”
“The next business is the statue.”
“What’s the date of the Lord-Lieutenant’s visit?” said the Major.
“Thursday week,” said Dr. O’Grady.
“That’s ten days from to-day,” said the Major. “We may just as well go home at once as sit here talking to each other. There’s no time to get a statue.”
“We’ll do our business before we stir,” said Dr. O’Grady.