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

THE IRISH ORPHAN IN AMERICA. 161
friend ? an' only his heart is entirely changed, he surely
wouldn't treat me so differently from what he did before".
Things had gone on in this way for at least two weeks.
Dawson had gone through several small works on Catholic
doctrine, which Willy had borrowed from Father O'Hara;
and already the light of Divine truth was beginning to
shine on his mind, so long darkened by prejudice and
overshadowed by the clouds of error. The young man him-
self talked little to the others of the gradual change his
mind was undergoing ; for he knew them better than
Willy did, and he evidently placed but little confidence
in their present show of liberality.
One evening, Willy had asked permission of Mr. Talbot
to go see after his brother, and was just returned, saddened
and disappointed, not having been able to see
Peter, when he was told that Mr. Weimar and Mr.
Talbot were both in the sitting-room waiting for his return.
It was very near the usual supper hour, and it was a
strange time for the gentlemen to come ; besides, Mr.
Weimar had never been to the house since Willy Burke
had been its inmate. And then the idea of them, waiting
for him, threw him into a tremor which almost deprived
him of the power of motion.
" Waiting to see me !" he repeated, in a faint voice ;
*} why, what do they want with me at this hour ?"
" I don't know, 1 'm sure !" was the reply of Hamilton,
" But they do seem
for it was he who opened the door.
pretty anxious for your coming".
" Well, then, I '11 go, in God's name !" said Willy,
and, opening the door, he entered the sitting-room. His
first look was at Mr. Talbot, and he was shocked to see
that gentleman wear a sternness of aspect all unusual with
11