"And you'll all be in your beds at twelve o'clock?" Chorus: "To the minute, Father." "Well, God forgive me, but what can I do? Go on, you little heathens, and--" "Thank you, Father--" "Thank you, Father--" "Thank you, Father--," etc., etc. I went home with a troubled conscience, and I read that blessed Maynooth statute about dances. Then I had no sleep that night. The doctor and the deputation called on me about a fortnight later to settle accounts. I thought they were not very enthusiastic. They left the door open, and sat near it. "We came to settle about the concert, sir," said the doctor; "we thought you'd would like to see our balance-sheet." [Illustration: "Good Heavens!" was all I could say. (p. 89.)] "Yes," I said, demurely, "and, of course, if the balance itself was convenient--" "It isn't as much as we thought," said the doctor, laying a small brown parcel on the table. "The expenses were enormous. Now, look at these," he said, softly detaining my hand, as it moved towards the parcel. I read the list of expenses. It was appalling. I cast a corner of my eye farther down, and read, without pretending to see anything:-- "Total balance = 4_s_. 11-1/2_d_." "Boys," said I, as I saw them putting their hands over their mouths with that unmistakable Hibernian gesture, "you have done yourselves a great injustice." "I assure you, sir," said the schoolmaster-- "You mistake my meaning," I interrupted. "What I was about to say was this,--when young men give their services gratuitously, and undertake great labor in the cause of religion and charity, it would be most unfair to expect that they would also make a pecuniary sacrifice." They looked relieved. "Now, I have reason to know that you all have undergone great expense in connection with this concert." There was a smirk of pharisaical satisfaction on their faces. "But I cannot allow it. My conscience would not permit me. I see no record in this balance-sheet of the three dozen of Guinness that was ordered for the dressing-room. And there is not a word about the box of Havanas, which William Mescal ordered specially from Dublin; nor any mention of the soda-water and accompaniments that were hauled up in a basket through the back window. Really, I cannot allow it, gentlemen, your generosity is overpowering--" The deep silence made me look around. They had vanished. I opened the brown parcel, and counted four shillings and eleven-pence halfpenny in coppers. CHAPTER IX SEVERELY REPRIMANDED