“Nobody,” said Gallagher, “would want to say a word that was displeasing to the Major, who is well liked in this locality and always was. If only the rest of the landlords was like him, instead of——”
“Go on about the American,” said Dr. O’Grady, “did he throw stones at you while you were making that speech about Home Rule?”
“He did not,” said Gallagher, “but he stood there looking at the houseen with the tears rolling down the cheeks of him——”
“What?” said Dr. O’Grady, “do you mean to tell me he cried?”
“It was like as if he was going to,” said Gallagher, “and ‘the patriot statesman,’ says he, ‘the mighty warrior,’ says he, and more to that, the same as if he might be making a speech about the land and the league boys cheering him.”
“I’m rather bothered about that American in some ways,” said Dr. O’Grady. “Are you telling me the truth now, Thady, about what he said?”
“I am,” said Gallagher. “I’d take my oath to every word of it.”
“Either he’s a much greater fool than he looks,” said Dr. O’Grady, “or else—but I’ll find that out afterwards. Go on with your story, Thady. What happened next?”
“Well, after he’d cried about a saucerful——”
“I thought you said he didn’t actually cry?”