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

THE IRISH ORPHAN IN AMERICA. 6 o
for her in her absence.
" An' so in the name o' God, your
reverence, I '11 stay and do all I can for Mrs. Burke ; an*
sorry I am this day to see her lyin' so low—indeed, we
don't see many now-a-days like her".
This proposal was gratefully accepted ; Father Fitzherbert
had been anxiously casting about in his mind
where he was to find a nurse. Immediately after Willy's
return he withdrew, promising to come early on the following
day. " Not", said he to Mrs. O'Grady, " not
that I expect our patient will have recovered her senses
so soon ; for I am quite sure she will be three days, if
not more, without undergoing much change ; but I will
call every day, to see how matters are going on. The
truth is, Mrs. O Grady", he added, in a lower voice, as
the good woman lighted him down stairs, " the truth is,
that when once this delirium has passed away, there will
not be a moment to lose in administering the last sacraments
; for I tell you candidly that the violence of this
fit will exhaust the little strength she had, and she may
drop off at any moment from excessive weakness. I will
send a little good wine, which may be given in small
quantities, when the fever has once subsided, so as to
keep her up as long as possible. I will also send a
doctor. Good night".
All that night the rage of the fever continued
abated, and the doctor whom Father Fitzherbert
un-
had
sent, finding, when he came in the morning, that some
cooling medicines were required, desired Willy to go with
him, that he might fetch them back. Being obliged to
wait a little while for the powders, Willy was longer ab-
sent than he had expected ; and on reaching the top of
the stairs at his return, the first sounds that greeted his