“And supposing that you were asked to nominate a man for the post——” Dr. O’Grady still addressed himself only to Father McCormack. “You might be, you know. In fact you, and other people in your position often are, though there’s always supposed to be a competitive examination.” “Nobody believes in examinations,” said the Major. “That’s exactly what I’m saying,” said Dr. O’Grady. “Now what would you do in a case of the kind? As a matter of fact what do you do? What did you do when they were appointing a secretary to the Old-Age Pension Committee?” “I’d look out for some decent poor fellow,” said Father McCormack. “One that might be wanting something of the kind, a man that nobody would have anything particular to say against.” “You wouldn’t spend a lot of time arguing about whether there ought to be such a secretary or not?” “I would not, of course,” said Father McCormack. “What would be the use? If the job’s there and a man’s wanted I’d have no business talking about the rights or wrongs of it beyond saying that the salary ought to be a bit larger.” “Exactly,” said Dr. O’Grady. “Now that’s just what’s happened in this case. It isn’t exactly a job, under the Government, not under our Government, though it may lead on to something in Bolivia. Here’s a dead General that has to be fitted out with a niece——” “You said a grand-niece a minute ago,” said the Major. “The principle’s the same,” said Dr. O’Grady. “What I’m trying to get you to see is that Mary Ellen may just as well step into the position as anyone else.” “When you put it that way,” said Father McCor-mack, “there’s no more to be said. The girl’s a decent girl, and I wouldn’t stand in the way of her bettering herself.” “She’ll be the better by a new dress, anyway!” said the Major. “I don’t know that she’ll benefit in any other way. But that’s something.” “I rather think,” said Dr. O’Grady, “that I hear Doyle downstairs. We’ll be able to get on with the business of the committee now, whether he has Thady with him or not. We’ve wasted time enough.” “We’ll waste a lot more before we’ve done,” said the Major. “The whole thing’s waste of time. There’ll never be a statue in Ballymoy either to General John Regan or to anyone else.” Dr. O’Grady had drawn a bundle of papers from his pocket and laid them on the table before him. “Our first business, gentlemen,” he said, “is to settle about the illuminated address which Mrs. Ford has kindly consented to present to the Lord-Lieutenant.” Thady Gallagher glared at Dr. O’Grady savagely. He did not like being interrupted in the middle of a speech. “Order, gentlemen, order,” said Father McCor-mack, nervously tapping the table with his pencil.