Chapter VIII: Stranger's Mission Fulfilled

IT was not until several weeks later, that entire consciousness returned to little Dick. And then, to his great amazement, he found himself lying in a strange bed, too weak to move either hand or foot, whilst a cheerful looking nurse, clad in a dark dress and white cap, cuffs, and apron, sat on a chair near the window watching him.

At first he thought he must be in some kind of hospital. But this idea vanished when the nurse presently rose and left the room, and Mrs. Wilkins, trembling with agitation, entered.

"Mother!" Dick's voice was feeble; scarce above a whisper—"Mother, come here; I want you."

"Dick! O Dick, my darling, thank God you know me at last!" burst from the widow's lips, as tears of happiness coursed one another down her cheeks. "But don't attempt to move—there's a dear boy!—or Nurse Millicent will think I am exciting you, and send me away."

"Where am I, mother? I don't know this place."

"Why, you're at home, Dick, to be sure."

"Home!" was the faint echo. "No, we don't live here!" and the child's eyes wandered perplexedly from one side of the room to the other, finally resting on the chintz curtains at the window.

"Yes, we do, Dick. This is our pretty new home. We left the old one weeks ago, and are living in one of the cottages in Lord Bentford's estate now. And oh, my dear, we shall never any of us suffer from cold or hunger any more."

"Cold!" murmured the boy slowly. "Hunger! Yes, I remember all about it now." Then making a tremendous effort, he inquired, "And the little youngster who fell into the water—is he living?"

"Yes; and he's as well as ever he was—thanks to our good Stranger for saving him!"

"Why am I lying here in bed, mother? I feel so weak. Have I been ill?"

"Yes, dear, you've been very, very ill; but you're much better now, and are going to get quite well, the doctor says. That lady who was here a minute since is a hospital nurse that Lord Bentford telegraphed to London for when first you—you broke down. There, I mustn't talk any longer; and you mustn't ask more questions. You shall know everything later on, when you are stronger."

Next day, there was a marked improvement in Dick's condition; and the doctor, when he called to see him in the forenoon, declared him to be getting on better than he had expected.

Accordingly, when Dick and his mother were next left together, the latter did not check the questions that came from the former's lips.

"I'll tell you all that happened, Dick," Mrs. Wilkins said. "After the accident on the lake, both Lord and Lady Bentford came down to our cottage, where you had been carried, and saw what a dreadful state of poverty we were in. Nothing would satisfy his lordship but that we should move at once into this beautiful cottage that happened to be empty, and have everything we needed. Talk of gratitude—I believe Lord and Lady Bentford are so grateful to you and Stranger for saving their only child that you might both 'eat off gold,' as the saying is, if you wanted to. We are to live here—rent free!" declared the widow. "Lord Bentford insists upon it. He has paid for all the furniture, and given us—oh, I can't tell what he hasn't given us! And directly my hand is strong enough to use, I am to go up to his beautiful house every day and work under the housekeeper."

"Mother, 'tis like a dream! Only, I don't want to wake up ever again, if it is."

"Hark!" said his mother. "Do you know that sound—that 'scratch, scratch,' outside the door?"

"Stranger!" breathed the sick boy, his blue eyes brightening. "May he come in and see me?"

"If you feel well enough to see him. His spirits are higher than ever, I do believe!"

So saying, Mrs. Wilkins went to the door, and let the retriever in. And a minute later, the faithful dog was clasped in his master's arms.

"Why, whatever's this?" demanded Dick, when he had blinked the tears of weakness from his eyes. "He's got on a silver collar! And—and there's writing engraved on it. Read it, mother; please do!"

"It says that the collar was presented to him by Lord and Lady Bentford, in grateful recognition of his splendid service in saving their only child from drowning," explained Mrs. Wilkins.

"Brave Stranger!" exclaimed little Dick. "Mother, don't you feel proud of him?"

"Yes, dear," was the prompt answer; "but I'm prouder still of you."

"Of me!" breathed the boy. "Why, mother, I've done nothing, though I did try all I could to earn some coppers that morning by putting on folks' skates!"

"You cheered and heartened me, Dick," sobbed the woman, "when, but for your faith in God's mercy, I should have sunk beneath my load."

"God sent that dog to our door," said Dick. "I always felt certain of that! He meant him to bring us good fortune; and sure enough he has!"

THE END.

PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN AT THE PRESS OF THE PUBLISHERS.