“Faith, it’s easy to say separate them,” answered the cook, highly incensed at Miss Kiligrew’s dictatorial manner. “Separate them yourself.” Scarcely had she spoken when Patsy by a supreme effort got Micky under, and kneeling on his long arms began to screw his knuckles against the jaws of his victim. The bully had often done the same to smaller boys, but now that the torture was applied to himself he did not like it in the least. “Who’s the son of the ould dunkey that grazes on the common? Who’s the son of the ould dunkey that grazes on the common?” cried Patsy. “Answer up quick, or I’ll screw you worse. Who’s the son of the ould dunkey that grazes on the common?” “I am!” screamed Micky, unable to endure the agony. “Let me up—you’re murthering me.” “Who’s ashamed of his son?” cried Patsy, continuing the torture, and delighted to think that little Lord Gawdor and Miss Doris and the governess were there to listen to it all. “Who’s ashamed of his son?” “The ould dunkey is!” shrieked Micky. “It’s I that’ll be murthering you some dark night for this.” “Name the biggest thief in the country,” continued Patsy, undismayed by the other’s threats; “out with his name before the ladies and the gintleman.” “Micky Finnegan!” roared Micky. “Mrs Kinsella, ma’am, pull him off me!” “Lave him be, Patsy,” cried Mrs Kinsella, who was enjoying the fun as much as little Lord Gawdor. “I will in a minit, when I gets his family tree out of him,” replied Patsy. “Answer up, Micky Finnegan—who was your gran’mother?” “The ould goose,” blubbered Micky, who was now in tears. “Was she always good to you?” “She were.” “Ain’t you ’shamed of yourself for cartin’ her about on your shoulder to sell her when she was dead of ould age and starvation?” “I am.” “Did she tell you before she died you weren’t fit to black the boots of Patsy Rooney?” “She did.” “Did she spake the truth?” “She did.” “Up you get,” said Patsy; “and off with you and ’pologise to your ould father for havin’ such a son.” He released Micky, who sprang to his feet and tore out of the yard shouting what he wouldn’t do next time he caught Patsy alone on a dark night. “Bravo, Carrots!” cried Lord Gawdor. “Bravo, Carrots!” cried Doris, as Patsy, triumphant and grinning with delight, was led off into the kitchen by the ear. “Robert! Doris!” cried Miss Kiligrew; “what would your grandmother say if she could hear you?” “I dunno!” replied Lord Gawdor; “but I bet she’d have laughed if she’d heard that long chap saying _his_ grandmother was a goose.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER IX A FACE AT THE WINDOW