had been.
Quickly I gave him absolution, after which I administered the Holy
Viaticum, which he received with great fervor. 'I am resigned; but,
sweet Jesus, pity my little ones,' he whispered. Then, in a little
while, with our dear Lord to conduct him, he passed into eternity. I
doubt not that his sentence was full of mercy." There was a pause of
several moments, during which May dashed more than one tear from her
cheek.

"But who, think you, I saw, when I lifted my eyes from that dying
countenance?"

"I cannot imagine, father."

"Your uncle. Yes, indeed! he stood watching the scene with a most intent
and singular expression of countenance," said Father Fabian.

"It is, I believe, one of the first _practical_ fruits of the Catholic
faith he ever saw," said May, quite forgetting her own humble, patient
example.

"Probably!" said Father Fabian, smiling; "but tell me now what is it you
want. I have to run away out to the north-western limits of the city."

"That will suit precisely, dear father. It is a poor, paralytic old
woman, I wish to direct you. She has determined to become a Catholic,
and wishes to see you. She needs instruction; but her faith is so
docile, that I do not think you will hesitate long to grant the ardent
desire of her soul, which is, admission into the church of God."

"And where does our neophyte live?" asked Father Fabian.

"In the first of those small cottages west of Howard's Woods; but please,
Father Fabian, don't mind any thing she may say about me," said May,
blushing, and looking embarrassed. "She is so very grateful, that she
imagines that I have done a great deal for her, and really makes me
ashamed of the trifling amount of good I have extended to her. Will you
give me your blessing, father?"

"I shall certainly go, my dear child--meanwhile, pray for me," said
Father Fabian, as she rose up from receiving his blessing.

"Will you pray for my uncle's conversion, father? and, oh! I had almost
forgotten! My cousin has arrived; shall I bring her to see you soon?"
said May, standing at the door.

"Whenever you please to;" and May went away, feeling quite happy.

Mr. Stillinghast had not forgotten May's refusal to explain the cause of
her appearance, the day before, on the wharf; and being determined to
discover it, he stopped, on his way down to his counting-house, at the
wood-yard office, and inquired "if a young lady had been in there to
purchase wood yesterday?"