t of you; but I must not
stop now. God bless and reward you;--and oh, give up the drink, the
wretched drink, which has been my poor boy's ruin, and come for pardon
and peace to your gracious Saviour."

"Ah!" muttered the old creature, as she turned back to her miserable
garret, fondly eyeing the golden treasure which she grasped tight with
her withered fingers; "it's easier said nor done, my lady. Give up the
drink? No, it cannot be. Come to my gracious Saviour? Ah! I used to
hear words like those when I were a little 'un, but the drink's drowned
'em out of my heart long since. I'm too old now. Give up the drink!
No; not till the drink gives _me_ up. It's got me, and it's like to
keep me. It's taken all I've had--husband, children, home, money--and
it'll have all the rest afore it's done. I must just put this safe by,
and then I'll go and wet my lips with a quartern o' mountain dew. It's
a rare thing, is the drink; it's meat and drink too, and lodging and
firing and all."

In the meanwhile the cab sped swiftly on its way to the Albion Hotel,
and from thence to the lodgings, where Sir Thomas was anxiously waiting
their arrival. They carried the sufferer up to his bed-room. What a
contrast to the miserable, polluted chamber from which Lady Oldfield had
just rescued him! Here all was cleanliness and comfort, with abundant
light and ventilation, and a civil and experienced nurse waited to take
charge of the unhappy patient. Having parted with the superintendent
with many heartfelt expressions of gratitude, Sir Thomas, Lady Oldfield,
and the doctor proceeded to the sick-room. Frank lay back on the snow-
white pillow, pale and motionless, his eyes closed, his lips apart. Oh!
was he dead? Had the shock been too much for his enfeebled body? Had
they found him only to lose him at once for ever? Sir Thomas and his
wife approached the bed with beating hearts. No; there was life still;
the lips moved, and the hectic of the fever returned to the cheeks.
Then the eyes opened wide, and Frank sprang up into a sitting posture.

"Frank, Frank, don't you know me?" asked Sir Thomas, in a voice of keen
distress.

"Know you? No; I never saw you before. Where's Juniper? Come here,
old fellow. You're a regular trump, and no mistake. Give us some
brandy. That's the right sort of stuff; ain't it, old gentleman?" said
Frank, glaring at his father, and uttering a wild laugh.

"This is terrible, terrible!" groaned t