I learned the truth very soon.  At the third toast, it was always the custom for the ladies to withdraw; but my uncle stopped them this time, in spite of the remonstrances of Nora, who said, ’Oh, pa! do let us go!’ and said, ’No, Mrs. Brady and ladies, if you plaise; this is a sort of toast that is drunk a great dale too seldom in my family, and you’ll plaise to receive it with all the honours.  Here’s captain and Mrs. John Quin, and long life to them.  Kiss her, Jack, you rogue:  for ‘faith you’ve got a treasure!’

’He has already ’——­I screeched out, springing up.

‘Hold your tongue, you fool—­hold your tongue!’ said big Ulick, who sat by me; but I wouldn’t hear.

‘He has already,’ I screamed, ’been slapped in the face this morning, Captain John Quin; he’s already been called coward, Captain John Quin; and this is the way I’ll drink his health.  Here’s your health, Captain John Quin!’ And I flung a glass of claret into his face.  I don’t know how he looked after it, for the next moment I myself was under the table, tripped up by Ulick, who hit me a violent cuff on the head as I went down; and I had hardly leisure to hear the general screaming and skurrying that was taking place above me, being so fully occupied with kicks, and thumps, and curses, with which Ulick was belabouring me.  ‘You fool!’ roared he—­’ you great blundering marplot—­you silly beggarly brat’ (a thump at each), ‘hold your tongue!’ These blows from Ulick, of course, I did not care for, for he had always been my friend, and had been in the habit of thrashing me all my life.

When I got up from under the table all the ladies were gone; and I had the satisfaction of seeing the Captain’s nose was bleeding, as mine was—­his was cut across the bridge, and his beauty spoiled for ever.  Ulick shook himself, sat down quietly, filled a bumper, and pushed the bottle to me.  ‘There, you young donkey,’ said he, ’sup that; and let’s hear no more of your braying.’

‘In Heaven’s name, what does all the row mean?’ says my uncle.  ’Is the boy in the fever again?’

‘It’s all your fault,’ said Mick sulkily:  ’yours and those who brought him here.’

‘Hold your noise, Mick!’ says Ulick, turning on him; ’speak civil of my father and me, and don’t let me be called upon to teach you manners.’

‘It is your fault,’ repeated Mick.  ’What business has the vagabond here?  If I had my will, I’d have him flogged and turned out.’

‘And so he should be,’ said Captain Quin.

‘You’d best not try it, Quin,’ said Ulick, who was always my champion; and turning to his father, ’The fact is, sir, that the young monkey has fallen in love with Nora, and finding her and the Captain mighty sweet in the garden to-day, he was for murdering Jack Quin.’

‘Gad, he’s beginning young,’ said my uncle, quite good-humouredly.  ‘’Faith, Fagan, that boy’s a Brady, every inch of him.’