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

56 WILLY BURKE; OR,
about an Lour ago on an errand of trust to our steward
in the country".
" An' will he be long away, Mrs. Watkins ?" was the
trembling question of the poor mother, who saw in this
timely absence but another subterfuge to keep possession
of the boy. " Will he be back to-day, ma'am ?"
" Really, I cannot say ; it may be that the steward may
find work for him for a few days—but I do not pretend to
know".
The poor, disappointed mother raised her dim eyes to
heaven, and murmured in an under tone, " May God have
mercy on me and this poor thoughtless boy".
" Why, truly", said Mrs. Watkins, assuming an air of
offended dignity : " Why, truly, you are the strangest
woman ;
one would think you had heard some mournful
tidings, you have put on such a long face. What harm,
I pray you, will your son receive from going, for a few
days, to the country ? Surely Mr. Watkins is at liberty
to employ him as his affairs require".
" Och, it isn't that, ma'am, it isn't that !" And the
widow, as she spoke, was forced to lean against the wall
near her. " God knows I 'd be the first to advise him to
obey his masther's ordhers, an' to be always ready an'
but somehow I 'm
willin' to do his duty to you an' him ;
afeard, ma'am (I may as well tell you the truth), that
he 's not goin' on as I 'd wish, with regard to his duty to
God—an' that 's the main point, afther all".
Mrs. Watkins smiled. " Oh, I understand. I remember
now that your youngest son brought a message
to his brother about going to confession, or something of
that sort. But I should suppose that the matter is not
so very important but it can be deferred till his return.