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

60 WILLY BURKE; OR,
persuaded that his presence will ease her mind, when once
this delirium has passed away. You will go then as soon
as possible, and I will remain here till you return".
But Willy, with all his habitual veneration for the
clergy, seemed in no hurry to obey, and it was easy
enough to see that the command was anything but agree-
able to him. This the priest saw, and saw it with surprise
; for Mrs, Burke, in speaking of her children some
days before, had dwelt with excusable pride on the docility
and other good qualities of her younger son. But
Willy, like all others, had his own faults of mind and
temper, and amongst these was a tenacious remembrance of
injury, whether real or fancied, which now steeled his
heart against his brother.
" Are you not going, Willy ?" asked the priest, mildly.
Willy had taken down his cap from the pin where it
usually hung, and now stood twirling it between his
hands. He dared not raise his eyes, for he felt that a
piercing glance rested upon him.
" Only for who it is that bids me I wouldn't go a step
afther him", he said, doggedly, " for its little he deserves
it. If it wasn't for him an' his Mrs. Watkins, poor
mother wouldn't be lyin* where she is ; for they broke
her heart between them, an' now I 'd jist let them alone
together !"
" Child !" asked Father Fitzherbert, in his sweet,
solemn tones, " Child, do you call yourself a Christian
a Catholic ?"
14 1 do, your reverence—to be sure I do".
" Are you aware, then, that, as such, you are bound
imperatively bound, to go on this errand of kindness and
of charity ? If your brother hath erred, let him answer