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184 shirt for her son, but told me she could only bear to do a little bit at it now and then; so that it progressed but slowly, though the poor lad wanted it sadly. So I proposed to help her a little, after I had read to her, for I had plenty of time that evening, and need not return till dusk. She thankfully accepted the offer.

"An' you'll be a bit o' company for me too, Miss," said she, "I like as I feel lonesome without my cat."

But when I had finished reading, and done the half of a seam, with Nancy's capacious brass thimble fitted on to my finger by means of a roll of paper, I was disturbed by the entrance of Mr. Weston with the identical cat in his arms. I now saw that he could smile, and very pleasantly too.

"I've done you a piece of good service Nancy," he began; then seeing me, he acknowledged my presence by a slight bow. I should have been invisible to Mr. Hatfield, or any other gentleman of those parts. "I've delivered your cat," he continued, "from the hands, or rather the gun of Mr. Murray's gamekeeper."

"God bless you sir," cried the grateful old