“I’m willing to try,” said Father McCormack, “and so far as Mary Ellen is concerned I’m right enough. She’s a good girl, and she’ll do as I bid her. But it’d take more than me to pacify Thady when he hears the band.”
“It’s all right about that the band won’t play that tune at all. As it happens Lord Alfred has no ear whatever for music. That lets us out of what was rather an awkward hole. Young Kerrigan can play anything he likes, and so long as we all take off our hats, Lord Alfred’ll think it’s ‘God Save the King.’ Thady won’t be able to say a word.”
“If that’s the way of it,” said Father McCormack, “I’ll do the best I can with Thady.”
“Mrs. Gregg,” said Dr. O’Grady, “you can’t present that bouquet, so the best thing for you to do is to step forward the moment the sheet drops off and deposit it at the foot of the statue. Major——”
“You may leave me out,” said Major Kent. “I’m merely a spectator.”
“You’ll support Mrs. Gregg when she’s paying her floral tribute to the memory of the dead General.”
“I’ll do no such thing.”
“You must, Major. You can’t let poor Mrs. Gregg go forward alone.”
“Please do,” said Mrs. Gregg. “I shall be frightfully nervous.”
“But—but—hang it all, O’Grady, how can I? What do you mean?”