“She’s a good-looking girl,” said Dr. O’Grady. “If we had her cleaned up a bit and a nice dress put on her she’d look rather well standing at the foot of the statue. I expect the Lord-Lieutenant would be pleased to see her.”
“And who’d be getting the lunch for the Lord-Lieutenant,” said Doyle, “when Mary Ellen would be playing herself?”
“We’ll get someone to manage the lunch all right. The great thing for us is to be sure of making a good general impression on the Lord-Lieutenant, and I think Mary Ellen would help. I daresay you’ve never noticed it, Doyle—it would be hard for you when she will not wash her face—but she really is a good-looking girl. The Lord-Lieutenant will want something of the sort to look at after he’s faced Mrs. Ford and her illuminated address. She’s not exactly—-”
“The man that would run away with that one,” said Doyle vindictively, “would do it in the dark if he did it at all.”
“Besides,” said Dr. O’Grady, “we ought to think of poor little Mary Ellen herself. It’ll be a great day for her, and she’ll enjoy having a new dress.”
“Who’s to pay for the dress?” said Doyle.
“The dress will be paid for out of the general funds. I’ll ask Mrs. Gregg to see about having it made. She has remarkably good taste. I’ll tell her not to get anything very expensive, so you need not worry about that. And now, Doyle, unless there’s anything else you want to settle with me at once, I think I’ll write our invitation to the Lord-Lieutenant.”
“It would be well if you did,” said Doyle, “so as we’d know whether he’s coming or not.”
“Oh, he’ll come. If he boggles at it at all I’ll go up to Dublin and see him myself. A short verbal explanation—— We’ll let him choose his own date.”
Doyle lit his pipe and walked back to the hotel. He found Thady Gallagher waiting for him in his private room.