fell upon him in his
delight, while Pat was in no doubt at all. He recognised his former
benefactor at once with that strange power of memory dogs possess in a
way that is almost human.

"Ye see, I was bound to come, Lionheart, to see with my own eyes how
they were serving you, and to let you know I've gave up the drink for
ever an' ever! Twas all through you, and the Almighty's power, and now
I belong to Him body and soul, and He kapes me every day."

Dick's joy was almost too great for words. It was splendid to see his
friend like this, and to know that he had helped in the great change.

There were no lessons done that evening. Instead they talked, as Mrs.
Garth declared, "enough to fill a newspaper."

It happened that she had a room empty, for her other lodger had left a
week before, and when she found that Paddy meant to stay if he could
find work in Ironboro', she offered him the room, and he was only too
glad to have it.

"You can come here, and welcome," she said, "only if my old lodger, the
boy's uncle, comes back I shall let him have the chance of it again.
He used to say if he didn't get the dollars out foreign he should come
back to me, and Dick here is hoping he will."

"We had a letter from him," said Dick, "and he's coming home as soon as
he can get luck, he says, but he hasn't found any gold yet."

"It was a pity he went on a sort of wild goose chase, but still it was
a good thing you came to look for him, eh lad? Maybe it'll be the
making of your fortune!"

"I don't know about that," said Dick eagerly, "but I love to be here.
And I've nearly saved up enough to pay you back the debt."

"Pay! Now if you begin to talk like that I'll go back again. I should
most likely have been a neer-do-weel all my days, and maybe have died a
drunkard, if it hadn't been for you, Dick, and the good words of the
Book. Besides, I've got plenty," and he pulled out a handful of silver
from one pocket and the little bank book from the other and tapped it
merrily. "All saved from the paws and the jaws of the 'Brown Bear,'
that squeezes all the comfort out of so many homes in Venley. If only
I'd got all the money that have gone out of my pocket that way, I
shouldn't need to stoke for a living now. But if God will give me
health and work I shan't come to the workhouse yet awhile! That's
where the Fowley's are shaping for. Both drinking, and the children
left anyhow, and everything going to rack and ruin."