f the station. She would earn
her own living, and if necessary, wander barefoot through the world,
rather than submit any longer to insults from her own kith and kin, and
when she died a beggar's death, and lay stretched in a pauper's grave,
they might remember her words, and forgive themselves if they could!

The invective was originally directed against Pat alone, but as she
warmed to her work it grew ever more comprehensive, until at last it
seemed as though the whole household were in conspiracy against her.
Then suddenly the climax was touched and passed; the last stage of all
was announced by a tempest of tears, and the Major tugged miserably at
his moustache, nerving himself to the task most difficult in the world
to his easy-going nature,--that of finding fault!

"Pat, ye rascal, what's this I hear about you? Mark my words, now.
I'll not have your sisters made the subject for practical jokes! If you
can't keep yourself out of mischief, I'll find a way to occupy you with
something you'd like worse. Can I have no peace in me own home for the
complaints of you and your doings? If ye can't carry yourself as a
gentleman, I'll apprentice ye to a trade, and wash me hands of you once
for all. Mind what I'm telling ye, for there's truth in it! Will I be
giving him a punishment now, Esmeralda? Is it your wish I should punish
him?"

"It is so! And the harder the better!" sobbed Esmeralda; and the Major
heaved a sigh of ponderous dimensions.

"Ye hear that, Patrick? Listen to that, now, and see your sister in
tears, and think shame to yourself on a good Christmas Eve. And now
I've the trouble of punishing you into the bargain. What will I do with
him, Esmeralda? Will I send him off to his bed before Jack comes home?"

And then a pretty thing happened, for among the chorus of groans which
greeted this suggestion, Esmeralda's "No, no!" sounded shrillest of all,
and off she rushed to Pat's side in a whirlwind of repentance.

"No, no! Not that! He would be so disappointed. He must see Jack. I
won't have him punished after all, father. It's Christmas-time, and
he's sorry already. Tell the Major you are sorry, Pat, and I'll shake
hands and say no more."

"I'm sorry, sir, there's been such a stupid row," said Pat truthfully
enough; but when his father turned away with a sigh of relief, he put
his arm round his sister and gave her a bear-like hug.

"What did you howl about, silly?" he asked affectionately