mentioned in general order, along with Colonel Fortescue, and was
commonly reputed to fear neither the devil nor the doctor. But he was
under iron discipline with Mrs. McGillicuddy, and Kettle, like
everybody else, knew it.

While the After-Clap was disporting himself with the articles on the
Sergeant's desk, under the full glare of the electric light, a shadow
passed the window. The next minute Sergeant McGillicuddy entered, the
lion in him aroused by the sight of the liberties taken with his desk.

"I say, you naygur," snorted the Sergeant wrathfully, "you take that
baby off my desk and out of this office. The C. O's office ain't no
day nursery."

"You go to grass," replied Kettle boldly.

The reason for Kettle's boldness was in sight. Mrs. McGillicuddy's
majestic figure was seen approaching from the region back of the
dining-room, and she had heard the Sergeant's remark about the C. O.'s
office being a day nursery.

"And it's you, Patrick McGillicuddy," cried Mrs. McGillicuddy, sailing
into the office, "the father of eight children, complaining of this
sweet blessed lamb."

"D' ye mean the naygur?" asked McGillicuddy.

Mrs. McGillicuddy, scorning to reply, seized the baby, and with Kettle
following marched out. It was not really judicious for the After-Clap
to be taken into the C. O.'s office.