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

218 WILLY BURKE; OR,
much at the best' (according to your kind recommendation)—takes
this opportunity to thank you for all the
favours you and Mr. Watkins conferred on him, especially
for the last, when you proposed to do him the honour of
appearing at a great Bible meeting to •
bear
testimony';
but as said Peter had no wish to be ' the great lion of the
day', he '11 just take himself off. He sends his compliments
to worthy Mr. Mortimer, and assures him that his
opinion of ' Irish Papists' is about right, as far as himself
is concerned ; he is a Catholic at heart, though unworthy
of being called so, by reason of the scandal he has
given in listening to such evil counsellors as you and Mr.
Mortimer".
" Short, but not very sweet !" was Willy's observation,
as he handed the note to Father O'Hara, and requested
him to read it aloud.
After a little more conversation with the priest and
Dawson, the brothers took their leave, and proceeded to
the house of Mr. Talbot, where Peter was kindly, even
cordially welcomed. How his heart throbbed with
joy, as he received the friendly congratulations of Mr.
Talbot and his amiable wife—congratulations which he
knew (and felt) were sincere. It was agreed upon, in the
course of the evening, that for the present the four thousand
dollars were to be invested in railway shares, which
Mr. Talbot believed the most profitable method of using
them. The brothers willingly acceded to his proposal to
remain in his employment for the time being, " with an
increase of salary, however", said the genercus merchant.
" Dawson's place is now vacant, he having been advanced
to that which had been Wilson's ; if you have no objec-