Australian Tales - Setis

head put in a sack, an' sarve ye right for yer imperence.’
“ ‘Get out you saucy ragamuffin?’ said the servant angrily, at the same
time we heard a heavy thud outside, and the door was slammed to. It was
evident that the intruder had been pushed out of the house, which seemed
a clear indication that he was not welcome in it.
“ ‘Hallo! hallo! what's all that whirly burly about, I'd like to know?’
exclaimed the host, walking from the farther end of the drawing-room as
though intent upon going into the hall to investigate the cause of the
uproar. At that instant a man, covered with dust, presented himself at one
of the open French windows, holding a battered hat in his hands.
“ ‘Be the livin' jingo! iv that isn't Teddy himself!’ shouted the man,
dropping his hat and springing into the room. ‘Savin' yer prisense, ladies
and jintlemen, and axin yer pardon for gettin' in at the windee like a thief,
I've come to see me brother, an' here he is sure enough, God bless him.
He's the ony son ov me mother, barrin' meself an' me sisther Meg. Troth,
I'd know him in the middle ov a regiment ov sogers, iv they were all as
nakid as skinned weasils — so I wud. Teddy, honey! an' don't ye know
yer own darlint brother Bryan?’ he added, advancing nearer, with his
eyes full of affectionate earnestness.
“The host stood for a moment as if petrified with amazement, while his
handsome face twitched with emotion. Then a happy smile began to play
round his mouth, but almost simultaneously he burst into tears, and flung
himself into the open arms of the dusty man, whom I at once recognised
as my humble friend Bryan Grady; at the same time I observed his wife
and five children grouped round the window, staring into the room, with
faces expressive of wonder and delight at the moving scene. The
surprised looks of the guests, and the very natural embarrassment of the
hostess and her daughters, at the unexpected arrival of relatives with
whom they were wholly unacquainted, would have made a rare picture.
Releasing himself from the athletic hugs of his brother, Bryan blundered
out an apology to the guests, then turning to the group at the window he
exclaimed: —
“ ‘Arrah, come inside here, ivery one ov yez, Nora and Judy darlints!
kiss yer uncle tinderly. Bhoys take yer skull caps off an' wipe your noses.
Bridget jewel! this is me brother Teddy, as ye've heard me mintion a
million o' times. Long life to him, and God bless everybody else.’
“ ‘Wisha! wisha! an' is that Teddy himself now? Shure I'm right glad to
see yez, honey!’ said Bridget, humbly approaching to take the proffered
hand of the host. Then the girls, pushed onward by their father, timidly
drew near to kiss their sobbing uncle, while the boys were making a
series of bows to the whole company, in a style peculiar to peasant boys
in general, and shuffling about on the velvet pile carpet like young bears
on hot tiles.
“ ‘Save us iv there isn't Dochter M'Merry here too,’ exclaimed Bryan,