d eyes, and childlike
he grasps the hand of the young man.

"Be comforted with the knowledge that you have friends, Tom. One
all-important thing is wanted, and you are a man again."

"As to that!" interrupts Tom, doubtingly, and laying his begrimed hand
on his burning forehead, while he alternately frets and frisks his
fingers through his matted hair.

"Have no doubts, Tom--doubts are dangerous."

"Well, say what it is, and I'll try what I can do. But you won't think
I'm so bad as I seem, and'll forgive me? I know what you think of me,
and that's what mortifies me; you think I'm an overdone specimen of our
chivalry--you do!"

"You must banish from your mind these despairing thoughts," replies the
young man, laying his right hand approvingly on Tom's head. "First,
Tom," he pursues, "be to yourself a friend; second, forget the error of
your mother, and forgive her sending you here; and third, cut the house
of Madame Flamingo, in which our chivalry are sure to get a shattering.
To be honest in temptation, Tom, is one of the noblest attributes of our
nature; and to be capable of forming and maintaining a resolution to
shake off the thraldom of vice, and to place oneself in the serener
atmosphere of good society, is equally worthy of the highest
commendation."

Tom received this in silence, and seemed hesitating between what he
conceived an imperative demand and the natural inclination of his
passions.

"Give me your hand, and with it your honor--I know you yet retain the
latent spark--and promise me you will lock up the cup--"

"You'll give a body a furlough, by the way of blowing off the fuddle he
has on hand?"

"I do not withhold from you any discretionary indulgence that may bring
relief--"

Tom interrupts by saying, "My mother, you know!"

"I will see her, and plead with her on your behalf; and if she have a
mother's feelings I can overcome her prejudice."

Tom says, despondingly, he has no home to go to. It's no use seeing his
mother; she's all dignity, and won't let it up an inch. "If I could only
persuade her--" Tom pauses here and shakes his head.

"Pledge me your honor you'll from this day form a resolution to reform,
Tom; and if I do not draw from your mother a reconciliation, I will seek
a home for you elsewhere."

"Well, there can't be much harm in an effort, at all events; and here's
my hand, in sincerity. But it won't do to shut down until I get over
this bit of a fog I'm now in." With child