She took Tom up to the little back room, and stopped to talk with him for a minute or two, for her husband’s words had smitten her heart, and she was sorry for the ungracious reception she had given Tom at first. “Jack and Dick are never in bed till we come, and it’s work enough to catch them then on fine evenings,” said she, as she took the candle away. Tom tried to speak to God as his mother had taught him, out of the fulness of his little heart, which was heavy enough that night. He tried to think how she would have wished him to speak and to do, and when he felt puzzled with the remembrance of the scene of disorder and anger which he had seen, he earnestly prayed God would make and keep clear his path before him. And then he fell asleep. He had had a long dream of other and happier days, and had thought he was once more taking a Sunday evening walk with his mother, when he was roughly wakened up by his cousins. “I say, lad, you’re lying right across the bed. You must get up, and let Dick and me come in, and then creep into the space that’s left.” Tom got up dizzy and half awake. His cousins got into bed, and then squabbled about the largest share. It ended in a kicking match, during which Tom stood shivering by the bedside. “I’m sure we’re pinched enough as it is,” said Dick at last. “And why they’ve put Tom in with us I can’t think. But I’ll not stand it. Tom shan’t sleep with us. He may lie on the floor, if he likes. I’ll not hinder him.” He expected an opposition from Tom, and was rather surprised when he heard the little fellow quietly lie down, and cover himself as well as he could with his clothes. After some more quarrelling, Jack and Dick fell asleep. But in the middle of the night Dick awoke, and heard by Tom’s breathing that he was still awake, and was crying gently. “What! molly-coddle, crying for a softer bed?” asked Dick. “Oh, no—I don’t care for that—if—oh! if mother were but alive,” little Tom sobbed aloud. “I say,” said Dick, after a pause. “There’s room at my back, if you’ll creep in. There! don’t be afraid—why, how cold you are, lad.” Dick was sorry for his cousin’s loss, but could not speak about it. However, his kind tone sank into Tom’s heart, and he fell asleep once more.