Poor Joey, when he heard his dearest friend was in trouble, had wept a lot
of tears and took on very bad and even said hard things to his father for
catching 'Santa Claus' and sending him to prison. But he'd got resigned to
his loss, for two months is a long time in a child's mind. And he'd walk
every day to look at Pegram's house and pet the poacher's dog. 'Twas
thought the creature ought to be shot, and the head-keeper at Oakshott's,
who knew the cleverness of the animal, was strong for it; but humanity be
full of strange twists and the Squire himself it was who ordered the cur
should live and be tended.

"Let the dog be there to welcome him back," said the Squire in his easy
way. "The dog's done nothing but his duty and done it mighty well by all
accounts."

He was pleased, you see, because he'd got to the bottom of the mystery,
and he had a great trustful faith in human nature and hoped that Teddy
would turn from his bad ways after a taste of klink. And it certainly
looked as if the good man was right.

Little Joey would often take 'Choc' to see his mother on her chain at
Teddy's house while the man was put away. And he'd carry the poor creature
a tidy bone also when he could get one. And how long that two months was
to the lurcher, who shall say? But one fine morning Pegram was back again,
and he welcomed the child same as he'd already welcomed his dog, and Joey
went back full of great joy to say as his friend was home once more and
terrible pleased to see him. Which interested Joseph and Minnie Ford a
good bit, for they guessed that they'd made a bitter and dangerous enemy
in that quarter and little thought to see the man again. Yet he'd come
back and, more wonderful still, afore he'd been home a week, he made bold
to step in one night and shake their hands and say 'twas a very nice thing