Fardorougha, The Miser: The Works of William Carleton, Volume OneCarleton, William
General
Fardorougha, The Miser: The Works of William Carleton, Volume One
Carleton, William
Ireland -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
“Connor,” said his mother, “your father's now asleep, an' won't miss
you; lose no time, thin, in goin' to see her; and may God strinthen you
both for sich a meetin'!” They accordingly went. The Bodagh was out,
but Una and her mother were sitting in the parlor when the noise of a
jaunting-car was heard driving up to the door; Una involuntarily looked
out of the window, and seeing two she started up, and putting her hands
together, hysterically exclaimed thrice, “Mother, mother, mother, assist
me, assist me--he's here!” Her mother caught her in her arms; and at the
same moment Connor rushed in. Una could only extend her arms to receive
him; he clasped her to his heart, and she sobbed aloud several times
rapidly, and then her head sank upon his bosom.
Her mother and brother were both weeping.
Her lover looked down upon her, and, as he hung over the beautiful and
insensible girl, the tears which he shed copiously bedewed her face.
After a few minutes she recovered, and her brother, with his usual
delicacy, beckoned to his mother to follow him out of the room, knowing
that the presence of a third person is always a restraint upon the
interchange of even the tenderest and purest affection. Both, therefore,
left them to themselves; and we, in like manner, must allow that
delicious interview to be sacred only to themselves, and unprofaned by
the gaze or presence of a spectator. The Bodagh and his wife were highly
gratified at the steps their children had taken to provide for the
comfort of Fardorougha and his wife. The next day the whole family paid
them a visit, but on seeing the miser, it was clear that his days were
numbered. During the most vigorous and healthy period of his life, he
had always been thin and emaciated; but now, when age, illness, the
severity of a sis months' voyage, and, last of all, the hand of death,
left their wasting traces upon his person, it would indeed be difficult
to witness an image of penury more significant of its spirit. We must,
however, do the old man justice. Since the loss of his money or rather
since the trial and conviction of his son, or probably since the
operation of both events upon his heart, he had seldom, if ever, by a
single act or expression, afforded any proof that his avarice survived,
or was able to maintain its hold upon him, against the shock which
awakened the full power of a father's love.
About ten o'clock, a. m., on the fourth day after their arrival, Connor,
who had run over to the Bodagh's, was hurriedly sent for by his mother,
who desired Nelly M'Cormick to say that his father incessantly called
for him, and that he must not lose a moment in coming. He returned
immediately with her, and found the old man reclining in bed, supported
by his wife, who sat behind him.
“Is my boy comin'?” he said, in a thin, wiry, worn voice, but in words
which, to any person near him, were as distinct almost as ever--“is my
boy Connor comin'?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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