Willy Burke, or, The Irish orphan in America - Digital Repository ...

350 WILLY BURKE; OE,
" Why, how in the world did that happen ?" asked
Peter, evidently taken aback. And when Willy told
him, he remained silent for a considerable time. He was
thinking what a strange thing it was that his brother,
two years younger than he, could so stoutly resist, and
even overcome temptation, while he was almost sure to
give way, even at the very first assault. Yet he would
not acknowledge that such were his ideas ; and when
Willy, seeing a certain confusion in his face, and, therefore,
partly guessed his thoughts, would have persuaded
him to apply for grace and strength at the fountain of all
good, he cut him short
meant".
by asking snappishly, " what he
" Why, that you ought to go to confession, Peter, and
approach the Holy Communion a great deal oftener than
you do ; indeed, I 'm afraid you never go at all. Have
you been to confession since Father Fitzherbert went
away ?"
" No, I havn't", was the reply ; " and I don't want to
be worried about it. I '11 go when I '11 think fit ;
I '11 not go at all, if I don't do it of my own accord.
and
So
don't bother me about confession. Confession, indeed
I 'm sure its the fine time I have of it with you about the
same confession".
Willy had been far from expecting such an answer, and
it took him so much by surprise that he did not speak
again till they reached Mrs. Williams's house. They were
received by the good lady with all her usual cordiality ;
and the girls were more than doubly pleased to see their
brothers once more together. But when Peter opened his
negotiation (which Willy purposely waited for him to do),
the whole scene changed. Mrs. Williams could scarcely
!