ew odd buttons and
keys, a bit of string and an empty match box!

Jim knew that _his_ ingenuity could never amuse Harry with such
things, but he determined to buy some toys that very evening, and to
try his hand at winning the child's heart the next evening. Jane took
very little notice of any of them and after putting the baby to bed,
announced that she had shopping to do, and as Tom saw her slip an
empty jug into her shopping basket, he knew what her final destination
would be and that she would not return for some considerable time.

"Aren't you going to put the little 'un to bed before you go out,
Jane?" he said, "we've had a good spell of play and he's half asleep
now."

But Jane deigned no answer, unless the slam of the door as she
disappeared on to the stairs, was one.

Jim shrugged his broad shoulders.

"Harry and me, we do the bedding-down between us," he said rather
sheepishly, "run and get your nightie, boy."

Then as Harry trotted off, he added in a lower tone, "She won't do
nothing for him, so I have to. It's no use arguing over everything and
so----"

Tom nodded. "So you have to be father and mother both," he said. "He's
more of a little 'un than I expected, but he's a dear little 'un. I've
right down enjoyed myself this evening."

The two men between them undressed Harry and superintended his
prayers, and tucked him into his bed, and then they sat by the open
window and chatted in low tones till the sound of their voices had
lulled Harry to sleep, and then at last Tom rose and said he must be
going. He went over to the cot and stood looking down on the little
sleeping face, with its regular features, its long lashes lying on the
bright cheeks, and its crown of tumbled golden hair.

"He's like the pictures of the angels," he said regretfully, "if
Pattie and I had had our little home, we'd have loved to let him stay
with us a bit, but I'll come in on Saturday and take him on the river,
if you'll let me. It seems so long since I had anybody to go out
with."

"Poor old Tom," said Jim affectionately, "it's cut you very hard, but
I always believe it will come all right, you know!"

"Pooh!" said an unexpected voice behind them, "you would always
believe anything silly, Jim Adams! Come right, indeed! Very likely!
You just wait till I have seen Miss Pattie Paul again."

"Have you seen her?" asked Tom in a curiously quiet tone. He had gone
very pale, but his face was in shadow and Jane did not perce