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

THE IRISH ORPHAN IN AMERICA. 89
which Mrs. Williams's shop was situated. The priest,
who walked immediately before them, was accosted by a
cheerful voice from the opposite trottoir, and a gentleman
instantly crossed the street. Father Fitzherbert
stopped, and said, with a smile, " I am very glad to meet
you just now, Mr. Talbot, as it saves me the necessity
of going to your house ; and I am rather limited in time
this forenoon, having promised to be at the bishop's at
half-past eleven. These are the boys of whom I told
you !"
" Oh, indeed!" said Mr. Talbot, as he glanced at the
brothers ; " in that case, I think you had better leave
them at once to me ; the business on which I was going
when I met you, can be easily postponed, and as Mr. Weimar
is in no very good humour this morning, it will be just
as well for you to keep out of sight, as I need not tell
you how prejudiced he is against priests in general. But
how is this, Father Fitzherbert ?" he added quickly;
ik these lads appear as though they had been weeping".
" And so they have, my good sir 1 but that is nothing
surprising, for they have just parted from their orphan
sisters ; and the parting has, as you can well imagine,
renewed the memory of their grievous loss".
Mr. Talbot then addressed the brothers in a kindly
tone, desiring them to go with him, that he might introduce
them to his partner, whereupon Father Fitzherbert
bowed, and turned away in an opposite direction, first saying
with a smile, " I have no fear but that you will do
what you can for them. Good bye, my boys ! I shall see
you very soon again, with God's help".
During their walk, Mr. Talbot put various questions to
the boys, tending to draw out their respective characters ;