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STEVE'S FAIR CHANCE.
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art tired out, and no wonder. Go up-stairs to thy bed, and I'll make thee a bit of warm breakfast, and then thou can sleep for twenty hours, if ta likes to."

"How can I go back to Burley's in such a rig as this?" and he lifted his foot, and looked almost, pathetically at his muddy suit of rags.

"Hesn't ta a better suit?"

"Ay, there is one at Jonas Hardcastle's. What good is that, though?"

"Hes ta t' ticket for it?"

"Joyce hes it."

"Varry well. I'll see after things. Thee go to thy bed, and sleep off t' weariness. I'll not let thee go back to Burley's in dirt and rags, thou can be sure o' that."

"There's few lasses as trustable as thee, Sarah. I'm fair beat out, and I'll be thankful to hev a bit o' meat and a bit o' peace."

In half an hour coffee was boiling, and bacon frying, and a comfortable breakfast was soon ready for the tired wanderer. "Now, Joyce, dear lass, take it up-stairs to him, and give him a kiss with it. Thou must make up thy mind to put up with a deal, and to forgive and forget a deal, but Steve is most like t' prodigal in t'