“I wish you could stay at home, and not go out to work, mother,” said Andy, soberly.  “You don’t look strong, mother, dear.  I’m afraid you’re not well.”

“Oh, yes, Andy, I am quite well.  I shall be better, too, now that you are at home.  I missed you very much.  It seemed lonely without you.”

“I must find out some way to earn money, mother,” said Andy.  “I’m young and strong, and I ought to support you.”

“You can help me, Andy,” said Mrs. Burke, cheerfully.

She took up the shirt and resumed her sewing.

“I’m afraid you’re too steady at the work, mother,” said Andy.

“I shall be ironing to-morrow.  It’s a change from sewing, Andy.  Mary, it’s time to take off the eggs.”

Andy was soon partaking of the frugal meal set before him.  He enjoyed it, simple as it was, and left not a particle of the egg or a crumb of the bread.

CHAPTER IV MRS. PRESTON

Whenever Godfrey Preston had any difficulty with his father, he always went to his mother, and from her, right or wrong, he was sure to obtain sympathy.  So in the present instance, failing to receive from his father that moral support to which he deemed himself entitled, on entering the house he sought out his mother.

Mrs. Preston, who was rather a spare lady, with thin lips and a sharp, hatchet-like face, was in her own room.  She looked up as Godfrey entered.

“Well, Godfrey, what’s the matter?” she asked, seeing on her son’s face an unmistakable expression of discontent.

“Matter enough, mother.  Father’s always against me.”

“I know it.  He appears to forget that you are his son.  What is it now?”

“He came up just as I was thrashing a boy down in the yard.”

“What boy?”

“Nobody you know, mother.  It was only an Irish boy.”

“What was your reason for punishing him?” asked Mrs. Preston, adopting Godfrey’s version of the affair.

“He was impudent to me.  He was leaning against the fence, and I ordered him away.  He was a ragged boy, with a bundle on a stick.  Of course, when he wouldn’t move, I went out and thrashed him.”

“Was your father there?”

“He came up in the midst of it, and, instead of taking my part, he took the part of the Irish boy.”

“I don’t see how Mr. Preston can be so unfair,” said his wife.  “It is his duty to stand by his family.”

“I felt ashamed to have him scold me before the impudent boy.  Of course, he enjoyed it, and I suppose he will think he can be impudent to me again.”

“No doubt.  I will speak to your father about it.  He really shouldn’t be so inconsiderate.  But what is that stain on your coat, Godfrey?  I should think you had been down on your back on the ground.”

“Oh,” said Godfrey, rather embarrassed, “I happened to slip as I was wrestling with the fellow, and fell on my back.  However, I was up again directly and gave it to him, I can tell you.  If father hadn’t stopped me I’d have laid him out,” he continued, in a swaggering tone.