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

178 WILLY BURKE; OR,
patiently as I could, to see what would turn up. But I' m
sure I never thought that any of the young men had taken
the money ; for it seemed to me that it must have fallen
on the floor, and got into some dark corner, where it was
out of sight. Thanks be to God that it has turned up,
at any rate".
" Yes I" said Mr. Talbot ; "but it would appear that
this unhappy young man, whether he really intended to
keep the money or not, was actuated by an unholy desire
of revenge. Mrs, Malcolm has just now been telling me
how this Wilson and the others have been incessantly
mocking and reviling you on account of your religion, and
also the conversation (for one of the young men, she says,
related it to her) which excited Wilson's hatred so
strongly. Now, who could have believed him capable of
such depravity ?"
" Oh, as to that, sir", said Willy, " I suppose he
only meant this as a joke, and as to all that 's passed,
why it wasn't worth speakin' of. When youngsters like
us get together, many a thing we '11 be talkin' about that
isn't worth repeatin', an' we forget it all—or the most of
it— just as soon as its passed".
" God bless you, laddie, God bless you !" was Mrs.
Malcolm's fervent exclamation ; " for sure an' certain,
you 're one o' his ain faithful children. That you are !"
Mr. Talbot glanced at his partner, and was pleased to see
that the old man's countenance wore a softened and even
kind expression as he looked at Willy, on whose sunny
features not a cloud was now visible.
Wilson just then entered the room and handed the
parcel to Mr. Weimar, with another attempt at a laugh,
though his cheek was dyed crimson. " There it is, sir",