“Murder!” whispered Sheelah to Moriarty, “if she fixes him with that evil eye, and he gets the stroke of it, Moriarty, ‘tis all over with him for life.”
“Tut, woman, dear—what can hurt him? is not the good doctor in person standing betwixt him and harm? and see! he is recovering upon it fast—quite come to!—Hark!—he is himself again—Tommy, voice and all!—success to him!”
He had success, and he deserved it—the prizes were his; and when they were given to him, the congratulating smiles of his companions showed that Dr. Cambray’s justice was unimpeached by those whom it most concerned; that notwithstanding all that had been said and done directly and indirectly, to counteract his benevolent efforts, he had succeeded in preventing envy and party-spirit from spreading discord among these innocent children.
Mrs. M’Crule withdrew, and nobody saw when or how.
“It is clear,” said Lady Annaly, “that this boy is no favourite, for he has friends.”
“Or, if he be a favourite, and have friends, it is a proof that he has extraordinary merit,” said Sir Herbert.
“He is coming to us,” said Florence, who had been excessively interested for the child, and whose eyes had followed him wherever he went: “Brother,” whispered she, “will you let him pass you? he wants to say something to Mr. Ormond.”
The boy brought to Ormond all the prizes which he had won since the time he first came to school: his grandame, Sheelah, had kept them safe in a little basket, which he now put into Ormond’s hands, with honest pride and pleasure.
“I got ‘em, and Granny said you’d like to see them, so she did—and here’s what will please you—see my certificates—see, signed by the doctor himself’s own hand, and Father M’Cormuck, that’s his name, with his blessing by the same token he gave me.”
Ormond looked with great satisfaction on Tommy’s treasures, and Miss Annaly looked at them too with no small delight.