"I'm not going to bully you, gov'nor," cried Tom, laying his hands on the old man's shoulders affectionately; "but are you going to stand up for your rights or are you not? Look here--that tongue!" "Yes, my boy, I did take it--I own it. I thought I might be hungry to-morrow, I have such a dreadful appetite, my boy." "Then why not ring and order that pompous old fizzle Robbins to bring you up something to eat?" "I daren't, my dear boy, I daren't. Her ladyship has given such strict orders to the servants, and I feel so humiliated when they refuse me." "Of course you do, gov'nor. Then why don't you go down to the club?" "I can't Tom, my boy. There's no credit there, and her ladyship keeps me so horribly short of money." "It's too bad; but come, gov'nor. I'm not afraid of mamma, and I'm not nearly so big as you are." "But, my boy," whimpered the old man? with a piteous look upon his face, "I look bigger than I am, but it isn't all real: there's a deal of padding, Tom, and that's no good. That tailor fellow said I must have a lot of filling out." He drew out his pocket-handkerchief to wipe away a weak tear, while Tom looked at him, half sorry, half amused, laughing at length outright as the poor old man smeared something brown and sticky across his face. "Why, gov'nor!" he cried reproachfully, as something round and brown and flat fell upon the carpet. "It's only a veal cutlet, my son," said the old man, piteously, as he stooped and picked it up before wiping his face. "You see I didn't know then that I should get the piece of tongue." "Oh, gov'nor, gov'nor!" cried Tom. "Don't scold me, my dear boy," pleaded the old man. "I am so padded out. There's much less of me when my coat's off. But I'm nothing to what your dear mamma is. Really the way she makes up is a gross imposture. If you only knew what I know, Tom, you'd be astonished." "I know quite enough," growled Tom, "and wouldn't care if she were not so false inside." "Don't say that, Tom, my boy. She's a wonderful woman, and means all for the best." "But, my dear old gov'nor," said Tom, "this is all so very weak of you." "Well, it is, my boy." "You must pluck up, or we shall be ruined," continued Tom, taking up a napkin and removing a little tomato sauce from his parent's brow. "No, my boy--no, my boy, don't say that; but I can't bear to ask her ladyship for money. It does make her so cross." "It isn't pleasant," said Tom; "but there, you go up in the drawing-room, and watch over Maude like a lion; I don't want to see her made miserable." "I will, Tom, my boy, I will." "And I say, gov'nor, you will stick up?" "Yes, Tom, my boy, yes," said the old man. "There, you shall see. Going out?" "Yes, gov'nor, I want to hunt out Charley Melton. I haven't see him for an age. He's always away somewhere." "Give my kind regards, Tom. He's a fine fellow--Damme, I like Charley. But I'm afraid he thinks me very weak."