o the larder, then to the
kitchen, where she poked up the fire into a bright glow, put a kettle
on, and then went back again through the hall to the parlour, to and
fro several times. When the two men returned to the house a quarter of
an hour later, the fragrance of hot coffee greeted them. Solid pies
and meat were spread out on the dark oak table. Mrs. Savery's pies
were famous throughout the town. But besides pies there were cakes,
buns, bread, and fruit,--a meal, indeed, to tempt any hungry man.

'I thought some hot supper would be good for thee, neighbour Smith,'
said Mrs. Savery in her gentle voice, as she handed him some coffee in
one of her favourite blue willow-pattern cups. But John Smith did not
take the cup from her. Instead, he turned his back abruptly, went over
to the high carved fireplace, and leaning down looking into the
glowing coals, said in a choked voice, 'It is the first time I ever
stole anything, and I can tell you I have felt very bad about it ever
since. I don't know how it is. I am sure I didn't think once that I
should ever come to be a thief. First I took to drinking and then to
quarrelling. Since I began to go downhill everybody gives me a kick;
you are the first people who have offered me a helping hand. My wife
is sickly and my children are starving. You have sent them many a
meal, God bless you! Yet I stole the hides from you, meaning to sell
them the first chance I could get. But I tell you the truth when I
say, drunkard as I am, it is the first time I was ever a thief.'

'Let it be the last time, my friend,' replied William Savery, 'and the
secret shall remain between ourselves. Thou art still young, and it is
within thy power to make up for lost time. Promise me that thou wilt
not take any strong drink for a year, and I will employ thee myself in
the tanyard at good wages. Perhaps we may find some employment for thy
family also. The little boy can, at least, pick up stones. But eat a
bit now, and drink some hot coffee; perhaps it will keep thee from
craving anything stronger tonight.'

So saying, William Savery advanced, and taking his guest by the arm,
gently forced him into a chair. Mrs. Savery pushed the cup towards
him, and heaped his plate with her excellent meat-pies. The stranger
took up the cup to drink, but his hand trembled so much that he could
not put it to his lips. He tried to swallow a small mouthful of bread,
but the effort nearly choked him. William Savery, seeing