"That's right, my lad. Why, bless me, you _have_ been quick! And
you've stacked them a sight better than I could myself. You shall wash
your hands and come in and have some tea before you go on. As to the
little dog I should like to keep him, he's so pretty and peart. I
s'pose you don't want to part with him?"
"Oh, no, thank you, ma'am," said Dick quickly, "but I _should_ like
some tea, I am so thirsty." And in five minutes Dick was sitting at
the round table and telling Mrs. Grey a little bit of his story, while
Pat finished a saucerful of sop and then looked up knowingly at his
master, as if to say, "These are famous quarters--don't tramp any
further to-night."
"Poor boy," said Mrs. Grey, as she wiped her spectacles, "it's a long
way for you to go, and coming on dead of winter too. I don't see how
you're going to manage it. But you shall have a shakedown on the old
sofa here, for to-night. I am sure I can trust you, or rather trust
Him who said 'Inasmuch.'"
"I _knew_ He would help me," said Dick gratefully, "but I didn't expect
anything so good as this."
"But He always gives more than our expectings or deservings," said the
old woman kindly, as she put another log on the fire. "See what a
splendid load of wood He's sent me for the winter, and then He sent you
along, just in time to stow it away.
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