"By that time we had arrived at the door of my father's house. I paid the rapparee, and in I popped. There was my father and mother, and all my brothers and sisters (bating Tim, who was in bed sure enough, and died next day), and that baste, Father McGrath, to boot. When my mother saw me she ran to me and hugged me as she wept on my neck, and then she wiped her eyes and sat down again; but nobody else said, `How d'ye do?' or opened their mouths to me. I said to myself, `Sure there's some trifling mistake here,' but I held my tongue. At last they all opened their mouths with a vengeance. My father commenced--`Ar'n't you ashamed on yourself, Terence O'Brien?'--`Ar'n't you ashamed on yourself, Terence O'Brien?' cried Father McGrath. `Ar'n't you ashamed on yourself?' cried out all my brothers and sisters in full chorus, whilst my poor mother put her apron to her eyes and said nothing. `The devil a bit for myself, but very much ashamed for you all,' replied I, `to treat me in this manner. What's the meaning of all this?' `Haven't they seized my two cows to pay for your toggery, you spalpeen?' cried my father. `Haven't they taken the hay to pay for your shoes and stockings?' cried Father McGrath. `Haven't they taken the pig to pay for that ugly hat of yours?' cried my eldest sister. `And haven't they taken my hens to pay for that dirk of yours?' cried another. `And all our best furniture to pay for your white shirts and black cravats?' cried Murdock, my brother. `And haven't we been starved to death ever since?' cried they all. `Och hone!' said my mother. `The devil they have!' said I, when they'd all done. `Sure I'm sorry enough, but it's no fault of mine. Father, didn't you send me to say?' `Yes, you rapparee; but didn't you promise--or didn't I promise for you, which is all one and the same thing--that you'd pay it all back with your prize-money--and where is it? answer that, Terence O'Brien.' `Where is it, father? I'll tell you--it's where next Christmas is--coming, but not come yet.' "`Terence O'Brien,' said Father McGrath, `its absolution that you'll be wanting to-morrow, after all your sins and enormities; and the devil a bit shall you have--take that now.' "`Father McGrath,' replied I very angrily, `it's no absolution that I'll want from you, any how--take that now.' "`Then you have had your share of heaven; for I'll keep you out of it, you wicked monster!' said Father McGrath--`take that now.' "`If it's no better than a midshipman's berth,' replied I, `I'd just as soon stay out; but I'll creep in in spite of you--take that now, Father McGrath.' "`And who is to save your soul, and send you to heaven, if I don't, you wicked wretch? but I'll see you damned first--so take that now, Terence O'Brien.' "`Then I'll turn Protestant and damn the Pope--take that now, Father McGrath.'