others, was almost more than he could bear.
Bryan knew that he himself had been her favorite son, so far as a heart
overflowing with kindness and all the tender emotions that consecrate
domestic life and make up its happiness, could be said to have a
favorite. There was, however, that almost imperceptible partiality,
which rarely made its appearance unless in some slight and
inconsiderable circumstances, but which, for that very reason, was
valuable in proportion to its delicacy and the caution with which it
was guarded. Always indeed in some quiet and inoffensive shape was the
partiality she bore him observable; and sometimes it consisted in a
postponement of his wishes or comforts to those of her other children,
because she felt that she might do with him that which she could not
with the others--thus calculating as it were upon his greater affection.
But it is wonderful to reflect in how many ways, and through what
ingenious devices the human heart can exhibit its tenderness.

Arthur, as Bryan entered, had concluded the devotions he had been
reading for her, and relinquished to him the chair he had occupied. On
approaching, he was at once struck by the awful change for the worse,
which so very brief a period had impressed upon her features. On leaving
home that morning she appeared to be comparatively strong, and not
further diminished in flesh than a short uneasy ailment might naturally
occasion. But now her face, pallid and absolutely emaciated, had shrunk
into half its size, and was, beyond all possibility of hope or doubt,
stamped with the unequivocal impress of death.

Bryan, in a state which it is impossible to describe and very difficult
to conceive, took her hand, and after a short glance at her features,
now so full of ghastliness and the debility which had struck her down,
he stooped, and, kissing her lips, burst out into wild and irrepressible
sorrow.

"Bryan, dear," she said, after a pause, and when his grief had somewhat
subsided, "why will you give way to this? Sure it was on you I placed
my dependence--I hoped that, instead of settin' the rest an example for
weakness, you'd set them one that they might and ought to follow--I sent
for you, Bryan, to make it my request that, if it's the will of God to
take me from among you, you might support an' console the others, an'
especially your poor father; for I needn't tell you that along wid the
pain I'm bearin', my heart is sore and full o sorrow for what I