"You're welcome, sir!" were his opening words; then the underlying bent of his thoughts found vent. "'Tis a sorrowful house you'll be findin'," he added in a subdued voice.
Milbanke glanced up sharply from the rug he was unstrapping.
"How is he?" he asked. "Not worse?"
Burke shook his head.
"'Twouldn't be wishin' for me to give you the bad word——" he began deprecatingly.
"Then he is bad?"
The old man pursed up his lips.
"Ah, I'm in dread 'tis for his long home he's bound," he said reluctantly. "Glory be to God an' His Holy Ways! But 'tis of thim two poor children that I do be thinkin'."
But Milbanke's mind was occupied with his first words.
"But how is he?" he demanded. "What is the injury? Has he an efficient doctor?"