“We can only afford to wear the cheaper sorts,” I said; “and a great many of us can’t buy any at all. I don’t think you need bother about the Irish trade.”
“Still, it is substantial. Now, a hostile tariff—or a bounty on Balbriggan—”
“You’ll have to establish a factory in Ireland,” I said, “and dodge the tariff. Tipperary now. Labour is comparatively cheap, and—After all, it’s a choice between that and letting the Fleet loose at Belfast again.”
Clithering thought this over. I think the idea of cheap labour in Tipperary cheered him up. When he next spoke it was in a most friendly tone.
“I hope,” he said, “that the shells which were fired—”
“There was only one,” I said.
“I heard that no lives were lost,” said Clithering. “I hope that the damage done to property was not serious.”
“One statue,” I said, “was smashed to bits.”
“I’m very sorry, very sorry indeed. Now I wonder if you would allow me—I mean if the people of Belfast would allow me—as a personal expression of the warm feeling of friendliness I’ve always felt for the Irish people, all the Irish people—I wonder if I might offer to replace the statue. I should esteem it an honour.”
“It was a very large statue,” I said, “and must have cost—”