t 'ud
happen to be the case, nothin'--not even your kindness in doin' us
justice, could make us happy. We would rather beg wid him, sir, nor have
the best in the world widout him. His poor young heart, sir, was fixed
upon the place your honor is restorin' us to; an I'm afeard his mother,
sir, would break her heart if she thought he couldn't share our good
fortune! And we don't know whether he's livin' or dead! That, sir, is
what's afflictin' us. I had some notion of goin' to look for him; but
he tould us he would never write, or let us hear from him, till he'd be
either one thing or other."

"I can tell you, for your satisfaction, that your son is well, M'Evoy.
Believe me, he is well--I know it."

"Well! Before God, does your honor spake truth? Well! Oh, sir, for His
sake that died for us, an' for the sake of his blessed mother, can you
tell me is my darlin' son alive?"

"He is living; is in excellent health; is as well dressed as I am; and
has friends as rich and as capable of assisting him as myself. But
how is this? What's the matter with you? You are pale! Good God! Here,
waiter! Waiter! Waiter, I say!"

The Colonel rang the bell violently, and two or three waiters entered at
the same moment.

"Bring a little wine and water, one of you, and let the other two remove
this man to the open window. Be quick. What do you stare at?"

In a few minutes the old man recovered, and untying the narrow coarse
cravat which he wore, wiped the perspiration off his pale face.

"Pray, don't be too much affected," said the Colonel. "Waiter, bring
up refreshment--bring wine--be quiet and calm--you are weak, poor
fellow--but we will strengthen you by-and-by."

"I am wake, sir," he replied; "for, God help us! this was a hard year
upon us; and we suffered what few could bear. But he's livin', Colonel.
Our darlin' is livin! Oh, Colonel, your kindness went to my heart this
day afore, but that was nothin'--he's livin' an' well! On my two knees,
before God, I thank you for them words! I thank you a thousand an' a
thousand times more for them words, nor for what your honor did about
Yallow Sam."

"Get up," said the Colonel--"get up. The proceedings of the day have
produced a revulsion of feeling which has rendered you incapable of
sustaining intelligence of your son. He is well, I assure you. Bring
those things to this table, waiter."

"But can your honor tell me anything in particular about him, sir? What
he's doin'--or what he in