He seemed to tell his story rapidly and steadily, without interruption, to the end; then Polly heard Mr.Shaw's deeper voice say a few words, at which Tom uttered a loud exclamation, as if taken by surprise.

Polly could n't distinguish a word, so she kept her seat, wondering anxiously what was going on between the two men.

A sudden pause seemed to follow Tom's ejaculation, then Mr.Shaw talked a long time in a low, earnest tone, so different from the angry one Polly had expected to hear, that it made her nervous, for Mr.Shaw usually "blew Tom up first, and forgave him afterward," as Maud said.

Presently Tom's voice was heard, apparently asking eager questions, to which brief replies were given.

Then a dead silence fell upon the room, and nothing was heard but the spring rain softly falling out of doors.