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

208 WILLY BURKE; OR,
table of the Lord. Yon may, perhaps, find him here when
you come",
¥ If I do, sir, it will be alljthe better ;
but I 'm staying
far too long, so I must hurry away now".
It was already drawing towards evening ; the slanting
beams of the western sun were gilding the tops of the tall,
dingy warehouses on either side, as Willy Burke hurried
along through a back street, taking the well-known way
to Mr. Watkins's office. But ere yet he had got in sight
of it he stopped short, and, turning down a wider and more
handsome street, whose bright brick houses, and green
jalousies, and iron palisading, denoted a double range of
dwelling-houses, he slackened his pace, and at times
stopped altogether, looking anxiously down the street.
" He must soon be here", he murmured to himself, u for
I know this is about the hour when he leaves the office".
He had waited some time, nevertheless, when he saw his
brother coming hastily along on the opposite side of the
street. Crossing over quickly, Willy caught his arm,
saying with a smile— " Why, Peter, you must be in a
mighty great hurry, when you were passing without seeing
me, and I 'm sure I 've been long enough waiting for you.
Its no easy matter to get seeing you now-a-days".
" And whose fault is that ?" asked Peter, sharply, " Is
it any wonder that I wouldn't put myself in the way of
being lectured and drilled by a saucy brother ?"
" Ah ! Peter, Peter", said Willy, shaking his head sorrowfully,
" this wasn't the way in old times : if you were
going on as you ought to do, you wouldn't have any need
nor wish to shun me ; its because your own heart
reproaches you, that you fear me".
" There now", said Peter, breaking in, 4; this is the old