G. A. Birmingham

“ I prefer to say that we are all friendly with our neighbours, and, as friends should, take a deep interest in each other's affairs. When old Colonel Miles' boy passed into Sandhurst I was as pleased as he was, and told the news to everyone I met. When Jack Rodgers, the rector's only son, took first honours in some college examination, old Miles, who was the first to hear of it, called on me and half a dozen other people to tell us, and we were all in a position to congratulate the rector when we met him. ”

“ Miles and Rodgers would certainly not act on the same stage with Gunning. Their feelings were too bitter to be concealed, and Gunning himself could scarcely appear with a black eye. I was quite sure that his eye would be black after the way Rodgers hit him. Besides, no man with any self-respect could be expected to fling his arms around the neck of a girl who had smacked his face twice in public. Mrs. Lowe was over- sanguine. ”

“ The theatricals went on and were a great success, though the last act of the play was not finished on the night of the performance. I spent most of the day arguing with Miles and Rodgers. It was all I could do to persuade them to act. I succeeded in the end only by representing Minnie's original understanding with Gunning as something much more definite than it actually was. Young Miles gave in sulkily.
"Of course," he said, "if a fellow was engaged to a girl, or even engaged to be engaged, he has a perfect right to—you know the sort of thing I mean. ”

“ The remaining members of the company gathered round me, and were babbling madly, asking questions which I could not answer. I thought that the best, certainly the most agreeable, thing for me to do was to go home. ”

“ Lowe's point. Jack Rodgers is a little unkempt. He also had an awkward way of walking. But the rector's opinion weighed with me. I did not like the idea of subjecting a pretty girl to the passionate kisses—"passionate"—is in the stage directions of a strange young man for a long series of rehearsals. I decided in my own mind that Jack Rodgers must have the part. Unfortunately, Minnie herself preferred Gunning. I do not know how she managed it, but she talked Mrs. Lowe into agreeing with her. Gunning confessed to me afterwards that he had promised to pad the calves of his legs with cotton wool. ”

“ Lowe picked him up before he had finished his sentence.
"Worse than that!" she said. "Worse! You're not very complimentary to me."
The rector made no real attempt at an apology. We left the house together, and he told me that he would not allow Minnie to act in the play. I was not much frightened by the threat. Minnie is a young woman of great determination.
Various other difficulties arose as the rehearsals went on. Every individual member of the company, except Minnie and Mr. Gunning, got angry about something at least once, most of them three or four times. ”

“ Lowe always fell back on me to surmount them.
Our principal lady was Miss Minnie Rodgers, the rector's eldest daughter. She was a very pretty girl, and had acted several times at school in speech day plays. We had no hesitation about selecting her, and she accepted the part with alacrity. Our troubles began when we came to choose the leading gentleman. There were three candidates for the part of Minnie's lover. The police officer, Mr. Gunning, put in a strong claim. ”

“ Nowhere else in Ireland are there so many retired military officers. We are not very well off, but we are most friendly and sociable. In summer we have a tennis club. In winter we meet at each other's houses to play bridge. ”