George A. Birmingham

“ I told him the way the treasure was found on Inishgowlan, and what do you think he said to me?"
"I don't know," said the Major. "What was it?"
"He said, 'That's a good story, Father Mulcrone.' Now that was as much as to tell me to my face that the story wasn't one an honest man would take his oath to in a court of justice. There's unbelief for you! A fellow that starts off by thinking himself clever enough to know what's true and what isn't will do no good in Ireland. A simple-hearted, innocent kind of a man has a better chance." ”

“ He anchored for an hour in the bay at Inishgowlan, and then, not feeling inclined to go ashore alone, sailed on to Inishmore. He found Father Mulcrone in the presbytery and invited him to spend the evening in the cabin of the Spindrift. There had been a change of government some months before, and Mr. Willoughby had left Ireland. The priest lamented his loss.
"The new man's not his equal," he said. "I don't say but what he means well. Only it's my belief that he'll never understand this country. ”

“ And even so he's generally made to feel sorry for himself."
"I'd like to have a talk with Mr. Meldon about the way he manages."
"He's coming over to Dublin next Christmas," said the Major, "and I mean to get him down to spend a few days with me. If you'll come, too, I'll give you a room in my house with pleasure. J. J. is going to take out his M.A. degree. He thinks it's time for him to be wearing a blue silk hood in church. I had a letter from him just before I left home. He says he's going to make his old rabbit-skin hood into a cot quilt for Mary Kate." ”