This George willingly consented to do; and he felt so much happier since he had opened his mind to his friend, that he no longer dreaded the interview with Lary; and, after breakfast, the two friends stepped across to Lary’s cottage.
They found the poor Irishman sitting on the bench before his door, trimming some plants to put in ’Squire Hope’s garden; and, taking a seat on either side of him, the young gentlemen informed him of the cause of their visit. The Irishman listened to them with surprise and wonder; but, when they proceeded to ask his forgiveness, Pat interrupted them, by saying, “That it was not fit for young gentlemen like them to ask pardon of a poor fellow, such as the likes of Pat Lary; and that he forgave them from his very soul; and as to the poor lad that’s gone, he has been punished enough, Heaven knows; Pat Lary bears no malice against him.”
“But, Patrick, why did not thee boldly deny the charge I brought against thee?” said Josiah.
“Why, your honour, I was not sober, and I thought I might have done it,” replied honest Pat; “besides, was there not my hatchet staring me in the face, as much as to say, ‘Pat Lary, you know you did it?’ Would it have been right, Master Shirley, to have denied my own? However, I always thought one day I should find out I did not do it.”
This speech would have upset the young gentlemen’s gravity at another time: and Josiah could scarcely forbear smiling, as Pat continued—
“And since you gave me that good advice, Master Shirley, I have never been intoxicated since; and, now I have seen the shocking end of that poor lad, I think I shall never give way to strong drink again.”
“In truth, friend,” said Josiah, shaking hands with him, “if thou hadst been soberly inclined, Simpson never dare have taken thy tools, and I never had suspected thee.”
They then made the poor gardener a handsome present, and returned home.
When once this painful load was removed from George Hope’s mind, he rapidly improved in health and spirits; and, before the midsummer vacation commenced, Mr. Carter proclaimed him sufficiently recovered to return to school.
The young friends parted mutually attached to each other; and, on leaving the house of the good Quakers, George grasped Josiah firmly by the hand, and said—