en of
hot milk and coffee; as I had seen a clever doctor in the hospital treat
a similar case of nerve and heart depression. But the already weakened
system could not recover from the awful shock of the exposure following
the debauch; and on Sunday afternoon we saw that his heart was failing
fast. All day the miners had been dropping in to inquire after him, for
Billy had been a great favourite in other days, and the attention of the
town had been admiringly centred upon his fight of these last weeks. It
was with no ordinary sorrow that the news of his condition was received.
As Mrs. Mavor sang to him, his large coarse hands moved in time to the
music, but he did not open his eyes till he heard Mr. Craig's voice in
the next room; then he spoke his name, and Mr. Craig was kneeling beside
him in a moment. The words came slowly--

'Oi tried--to fight it hout--but---oi got beaten. Hit 'urts to think
'E's hashamed o' me. Oi'd like t'a done better--oi would.'

'Ashamed of you, Billy!' said Craig, in a voice that broke. 'Not He.'

'An'--ye hall--'elped me so!' he went on. 'Oi wish oi'd 'a done
better--oi do,' and his eyes sought Geordie, and then rested on Mrs.
Mavor, who smiled back at him with a world of love in her eyes.

'You hain't hashamed o' me--yore heyes saigh so,' he said looking at
her.

'No, Billy,' she said, and I wondered at her steady voice, 'not a bit.
Why, Billy, I am proud of you.'

He gazed up at her with wonder and ineffable love in his little eyes,
then lifted his hand slightly toward her. She knelt quickly and took it
in both of hers, stroking it and kissing it.

'Oi haught t'a done better. Oi'm hawful sorry oi went back on 'Im. Hit
was the lemonaide. The boys didn't mean no 'arm--but hit started the
'ell hinside.'

Geordie hurled out some bitter words.

'Don't be 'ard on 'em, Geordie; they didn't mean no 'arm,' he said, and
his eyes kept waiting till Geordie said hurriedly--

'Na! na! lad--a'll juist leave them till the Almichty.'

Then Mrs. Mavor sang softly, smoothing his hand, 'Just as I am,' and
Billy dozed quietly for half an hour.

When he awoke again his eyes turned to Mr. Craig, and they were troubled
and anxious.

'Oi tried 'ard. Oi wanted to win,' he struggled to say. By this time
Craig was master of himself, and he answered in a clear, distinct
voice--

'Listen, Billy! You made a great fight, and you are going to win
yet. And besides, do you remember the sheep that got lost o