"  Let's  have  a  stroll  around,"  he  suggested.
"  Oh,  let's ! "  cried  Mabel,  and,  starting  off  by  his  side,
left  Molly  to  follow  with  Jack.
"  Are  you  a  loyalist,  too  ?  "  asked  Bernard.
"  I  don't  know  what  I  am,"  replied  Mabel.     "  You  see
I've  never  taken  much  interest  in  politics  up  to  this.   .    ..
I  only  want  what's  best  for  Ireland,  and  it's  so  hard  to  know
...  It  seems  a  shame  to  throw  Redmond  over  .    ..
after  all  he's  done  .    .    ."

She  spoke  tentatively  and  with  hesitation,  blushing  a
little,  and  Bernard  listened  patiently.
"  From  my  knowledge  of  Irish  history,"  said  he,  "  I'm
convinced  that  the  only  safe  course  is  never  to  trust  England.
We've  never  trusted  her  yet  without  being  let  down,  and  I
don't  believe  she's  mended  her  ways."

"  I  have  the  same  feeling  myself,"  said  Mabel,  "  but  Jack
says  women  have  no  business  meddling  in  politics.     He  says
they  follow  their  hearts  rather  than  their  heads."
Bernard  laughed  loudly  at  this.
"  Really,"  he  said    "  even  though  he  is  your  brother.  I


334  THE  WASTED  ISLAND

must  say  Jack's  a  donkey.     Is  he  thinking  of  joining  the  army,
by  the  way  ?  "

"  Oh,  yes.  He's  applied  for  a  commission  already."
Bernard  found  Mabel  an  interesting  companion.  They
walked  on,  discussing  a  variety  of  subjects,  quite  oblivious
of  the  crowd.  At  the  remote  end  of  the  Green  they  came
upon  a  little  knot  of  people  gathered  round  a  tiny  motor  car
from  which  Brian  Mallow  was  delivering  a  passionate
harangue.
"  Let's  listen  to  him,"  said  Mabel,  and  they  pressed
forward  towards  the  car.
