It was the General himself who answered his knock that had a strange mixture of the bold and the timid. The General had been listening for that knock. He had been wondering what sort of a boy it was who was willing to go out by the day to do housework. The knock, told him. "He hates to come, but he comes, nevertheless," thought the General. And he arose and opened the door. He looked into the boy's face and he saw a determined mouth and pleading eyes. "Grit," thought the General. But he only said, "Come in, my boy." "Yes, sir, if you please, sir, will you be tellin' Mrs. General Brady that I'm here, sir?" was Pat's answer as, with flushing cheeks, he stepped awkwardly into the room. What a fine soldierly bearing the General had, and how he must despise a boy who could turn himself into a girl! "Sit down, Pat," said the General pleasantly. "That's your name, isn't it? I'll tell Mrs. Brady presently." Pat sat down. He could not imagine the General with an apron on doing housework, though that was what he was trying to do while he sat there with cheeks that grew redder and more red. "Mrs. Brady tells me you are excellent help, Pat," went on the General. "Yes, sir," stammered Pat. "Have you come to stay, or just for the day?" The boy's eyes were almost beseeching as he answered, "I've come to stay, sir." What would the General think of him now? "I suppose you like housework, then?" "No, sir," came the answer in a low tone. "But father's gone, and there's mother and the boys and there's no work for boys in Wennott unless they turn themselves into girls." "Better turn into a girl than into a tough from loafing on the streets, Pat," said the General heartily, as he rose from his chair. "I'll tell Mrs. Brady you are here." There was not so much in what the genial master of the house had said, but Pat's head lifted a little. Perhaps the General did not despise him after all. "I've good news for you, Fannie," said the General as he entered the dining-room. "Your boy has come, and come to stay." "Oh, has he? I'm so glad." And she smiled her pleasure. "He's such a nice boy." "He's a brave boy," said her husband with emphasis. "That boy has the grit of a hero. He may come into our kitchen for a time, but, please God, he shan't stay there. I know what he will have to take from those street boys for doing the best he can for his mother and younger brothers and he knows it, too. I saw it in his face just now. The boy that has the moral courage to face insult and abuse deserves to rise, and he shall rise. But, bless me! I'm getting rather excited over it, I see." And he smiled. [Illustration: "'I've good news for you, Fannie,' said the General."] "Perhaps, Tom, you could shield him a little in the street," suggested Mrs. Brady. "I'll do my best, my dear." And then the General went away to his bank, and Mrs. Brady went into the kitchen to see Pat.