The curtains were drawn aside with many jerks. There was a great crowd on the stage. Finn wouldn't know them for the boys he had seen rehearsing, their clothes were so wonderful. The crowd went away and then the two brothers talked together. Oh, how mournfully they talked! They would make anyone sorry that listened to them!

Then came Ingkel the Pirate. He was surely the best with his crimson cloak and his glittering helmet! He spoke very strongly, and Finn thought that he might be proud of the way he carried himself.

Then came the spy who told what he had seen. Finn thought it was wonderful that he could remember all the descriptions. Was there nobody who would run and tell the King about all the people who were going to attack him? Finn thought it would be better for them if either Ferrogain or Lomna Dru slipped away and told the King what was being prepared. But no one went, and then the Pirates rushed across with swords and spears in their hands.

Then there was no one on the stage for a while and Finn heard the music of the pipes. How strange it was! Finn would be frightened to hear that music anywhere.

And then a little figure all in red with a red hood across his head came on. He spoke in a strange, singing way and Finn watched him, thinking he was really a supernatural figure. Another came on and then a third. He had not seen these Fairy Pipers at the rehearsals, and they looked so strange and they said such strange words that they impressed Finn as being remarkable beings. He did not think they should be proud of themselves, for he did not think they were acting at all.

The next thing that impressed Finn was the sight of a big strong boy carrying in his arms the little son of the King of Ireland who had been saved. At this all the audience clapped and cheered.

Finn glanced round at the crowd of people and saw Father Gildea coming up the centre of the hall. He was looking round for somebody. Then he saw the guest-master in his white robe and hood, coming after him, looking round too. The guest-master saw Finn and stopped and beckoned to him. Finn stood up and then Father Gildea saw him. He came over and took Finn into the passage through the centre of the hall. The guest-master made a sign that they were to follow and turned round.

Father Gildea led Finn down the hall. When they were outside he said to him, "We want you to come into the Infirmary." And then he went on, "Do you know your uncle is there?"

"Is it my uncle Bartley?"

"Your uncle Bartley, yes. And your aunt is there, too."

"Maybe it's my grand-aunt," said Finn.

"Your grand-aunt, yes."

There was something unusual in this and Finn was a little frightened. I think his hand shook. "Is my grandfather going with Bartley or is he going with my grand-aunt?" he asked.

"Well, we don't know yet," said Father Gildea.

By this time they had come to the door of the infirmary. The guest-master came out and closed the door behind him. He took Finn's hand and brought him further down the corridor. He talked to him about the Providence of God, and about his being a brave little boy, and about his not being alone in the world—there was his grand-aunt who would do all she could for him and there was his uncle.

"My grandfather," said Finn.

"Your grandfather had a long life," said the monk, "he is dead now."

When Finn heard that he ran back to the infirmary and opened the door quickly. He saw his uncle Bartley in the middle of the floor and he saw Father Gildea near the bed. At the other side of it his grand-aunt sat and she was weeping. His grandfather was lying there with a brown habit upon him and a crucifix clasped in his hands. Finn knew at once that he was dead and that he would never speak to him again.

He did not cry, and that night he slept in a room that was given to Bartley and himself. All night he dreamed that something very frightening would happen to him in the morning. He wakened up very early. His uncle was sleeping restlessly on the bed opposite his. Then the pigeons came to the window and cooed. His grandfather would never see him feed them! His grandfather would never speak to him again.

Finn was an obedient boy and he kept with his aunt nearly the whole of the next day. But when he knew they had all gone into the chapel he ran to the infirmary and opened the door. There was his grandfather on the bed, and nobody was with him. Finn went down beside him. He cried and cried and slept while he was still crying. They brought him back to his grand-aunt. That evening his grandfather's body was brought into the chapel—not into the chapel of the community where he used to go with Finn, but into the chapel that the public used to attend. And next day there was a long service and a long procession and a long wait in the church-yard. Finn stood beside his uncle and saw the clay put over the coffin. His grand-aunt had a car. She took Finn with her and put him beside her. Bartley bade them good-bye and they went back to Carrickleary.

But Finn did not stay long in Carrickleary. One day when he came home from school he found Brother Kevin with his grand-aunt in the parlour. He had come to ask her to send Finn to their boarding school. His grand-aunt agreed to send him for a year and Finn went back to the monastery one Sunday.

Brother Kevin was teaching him now. He often had letters from Bartley and from his grand-aunt and they often wrote to him about his father. He would soon be released. And once Finn had a letter from Tim Rogan. It was badly written and badly spelt.

"Dear Finn," Tim wrote, "I write you these few lines hoping to find you in as good health as this leaves me now. Dear Finn, do you ever think of the times we had together on the roads? I was passing through Carrickleary and I called in to your aunt's shop. She did not know me. It was she that told me you were at a school. I have the pigeon still. I was in a good many jobs since I saw you. First they put me in a Barber's shop but I did not like that at all because it was Indoors all the time. I ran away. Then I was a messenger for a while and got to driving a van. I would have done well at this only I took to Fast Driving. I will say no more about this at present. There is a great Object in a shop that I know. It is a Rubber Man. If you hit him he will fall Back and then rise up immediately on account of the balance at his feet. He can hit back. I would like you to see this Rubber Man. I forgot to tell you about the job I am on at present. It is in a Fancy Fair. Do you remember the clown in MacConglinne's Circus? The Circus is broken down now and the clown—Mr. Muskett is his name—has a pitch of his own. It is a Cocoa-nut Stall. I help him. Hoping to see you soon. Your affectionate friend, TIM ROGAN.

"P. S. I would like you to see the Rubber Man. He is great."

Finn heard that his father would come to see him soon. And one day a stranger entered the class-room and Finn recognized him as his father. He was looking very grave and he wore a beard. Brother Kevin brought Finn up to him and his father lifted him up. He told him he would take him away the next day. They went in a train and at a big railway station they stopped and waited for a long time. His father held him while they waited for a train to come in. It came at last. Finn saw a woman looking out of a carriage most eagerly. It was his mother. A long time Finn sat with them while his mother and father talked. Then they took another train, and after that a car and at last they came to Farranboley. There was Bartley's house and his uncle and the children outside the door to receive them.

"Well, Finn, welcome back," said each of the children.

Bartley came with them and they drove on to the house that was his grandfather's. There were lighted candles in the little windows, "illuminations for us," said his mother. His grandmother came out and welcomed them and then cried.

There was Brian Magarry at the fireside, and there was the dresser filled with dishes and plates, and there were the big looms. Finn sat down by the fireside and watched the peat burning and heard the crickets chirruping. He slept that night in the room where the clock that was called "Wag o' the Wall" ticked and ticked. In the morning when he went outside he saw the geese marching off and he watched the calves resting themselves in the sunny garden where the bees still hummed. And there in that country of bog and little fields Finn lived until he grew to be a man.