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

68 WILLY BURKE; OR,
11 Yes, your reverence ; he said he M come an' stay
oyer night, if mother wasn't better".
" Then I must see and speak with him". Father Fitz-
herbert, as he spoke, approached the bed, and taking up the
hand that lay on the coverlid, he found that the pulse was
much less violent than it had been even half an hour be-
fore.
" Mrs. O'Grady", he said to the nurse, " the fever
is already subsiding, so you will require to pay the utmost
attention, so as to lose no time in giving some of that
strengthening cordial on the first appearance of returning
consciousness. Has the doctor been here to-day ?"
" Yes, your reverence ; he called about noon, and he
thinks that towards evening she may come to herself a
little. He just told me what your reverence does—that
I have need to look sharp".
The twilight was deepening around, and Willy, with
Ally and Biddy, had drawn near the hearth, whereon a
log or two of wood was blazing. Mrs. O'Grady and one
of her daughters were also there, and the good woman
was relating, in a low voice, some old reminiscence of her
native land. They all believed that the sick woman slept,
for during the last hour or two she had lain in a heavy
slumber, when suddenly her voice was heard, low and
faint, but yet distinct, calling " Willy !" There was no
other light in the room than that of the fire ; but when
the boy, starting to his feet, reached the bed with almost
a single step, he saw that his mother's eyes were open,
and that she was trying to raise herself on her elbow.
Stooping over her, he held her up, saying tenderly, " Mother,
dear, do you know me ?"
" Ah, then, I do, Willy—thanks be to God ; but is it
sleepin' I was this long time, or what for had I sich ter-