There was a huddle of women-servants in all sorts of undress, peeping from the back hall.

In front of them, pushing them back, was Maureen, her shoulders covered with a shawl upon which her grey hair fell loosely.
The door burst open as soon as the bolt fell, and there was a rush of wind and rain, and my candle went out.

I saw a tall figure against the stormy sky where the moon looked through the fast-driven clouds.
"God save us, what a night!" the new-comer said, entering and closing the door behind him; and it took all his strength to close it.
"Bring lights, bring lights," I cried; and ran to my grandfather to whisper to him to take my grandmother back into the room lest the sudden joy should be too much for her.

For I had seen old Dido leap on to the stranger with a frantic joy, licking his face and hands; or I had known that it was so without seeing it, for the hall was in darkness.
Some one brought a light, and I saw old Maureen leap at the tall stranger as Dido had done and fling her arms about him, crying out for her Ladyship, where was her Ladyship, for Master Luke had come home.
And after that everything was confusion for a few minutes, and I can scarcely remember what happened in the babel of voices all crying out and rejoicing at once.
"See that the horse is put up for the night and that the man has food and shelter," I heard Uncle Luke say to Neil.
Then he, Uncle Luke, passed through the affectionate crowd that seemed as if it would eat him with joy.

I saw him go to his father and mother, put an arm about each and pass within the little room, and there after a moment I followed them.
They were all three standing on the hearthrug when I came in, and Uncle Luke had one arm about his mother and the other thrown across his father's neck.
"So this is little Bawn," he said, letting them go, and coming forward to meet me.