your father's roof once more."

The son put his arms across his breast, and bowed his head respectfully,
but declined receiving his father's hand.

"Not, father--father dear--not till my name is cleared."

"John," said the old man, now in tears, "will you refuse me? You are my
only son, my only child, an' I cannot lose you. Your name is cleared."

"Father," said the son, "I've sworn--it's now too late. My heart,
father, has been crushed by what has happened lately. I found little
charity among my friend's. I say, I cannot change my mind, for I've
sworn to fight him. And even if I had not sworn, I couldn't, as a man,
but do it, for he has insulted them that I love better than my own life.
I knew you would want to persuade me against what I'm doin'--an' that
was why I bound myself this mornin' by an oath."

The mother, who had been detained a few minutes behind them, now
entered, and on hearing that he had refused to decline the battle,
exclaimed--

"Who says that Lamh Laudher Oge won't obey his mother? Who dare say it?
Wasn't he ever and always an obedient son to me an' his father? I won't
believe that lie of my boy, no more than I ever believed a word of' what
was sed against him. _Shawn Oge aroon_, you won't refuse me, _avillish_.
What 'ud become of me, _avich ma chree_, if you fight him? Would you
have the mother's heart broken, an' our roof childless all out? We
lost one as it is--the daughter of our heart is gone, an' we don't know
how--an' now is your father an' me to lie down an' die in desolation