to one another over their
muffins and tea. "It really would be a relief to that whole family if
poor, dear Mrs. Shaw could be ahem! mercifully removed," did not know
that the invalid's weak, idle hands were unconsciously keeping the son
safe in that quiet room, where she gave him all that she had to give,
mother-love, till he took heart again, and faced the world ready to
fight his battles manfully.

"Dear, dear! how old and bent poor father does look. I hope he won't
forget to order my sweetbread," sighed Mrs. Shaw one day, as she watched
her husband slowly going down the street.

Tom, who stood by her, idly spinning the curtain tassel, followed the
familiar figure with his eye, and seeing how gray the hair had grown,
how careworn the florid face, and how like a weary old man his once
strong, handsome father walked, he was smitten by a new pang of
self-reproach, and with his usual impetuosity set about repairing the
omission as soon as he discovered it.

"I 'll see to your sweetbread, mum. Good-by, back to dinner," and with a
hasty kiss, Tom was off.

He did n't know exactly what he meant to do, but it had suddenly come
over him, that he was hiding from the storm, and letting his father
meet it alone; for the old man went to his office every day with the
regularity of a machine, that would go its usual round until it stopped,
while the young man stayed at home with the women, and let his mother
comfort him.

"He has a right to be ashamed of me, but I act as if I was ashamed of
him; dare say people think so. I 'll show them that I ain't; yes, by the
powers, I will!" and Tom drew on his gloves with the air of a man about
to meet and conquer an enemy.

"Have an arm, sir? If you don't mind I 'll walk down with you. Little
commission for mother, nice day, is n't it?"

Tom rather broke down at the end of his speech, for the look of pleased
surprise with which his father greeted him, the alacrity with which he
accepted and leaned on the strong arm offered him, proved that the
daily walks had been solitary and doubtless sad ones. I think Mr. Shaw
understood the real meaning of that little act of respect, and felt
better for the hopeful change it seemed to foretell. But he took it
quietly, and leaving his face to speak for him, merely said, "Thanky,
Tom; yes, mother will enjoy her dinner twice as much if you order it."

Then they began to talk business with all their might, as if they feared
that some trace of sentime