"Then I shan't promise!"

John was staggered for a moment, but after an instant he said:

"I must not do evil that good may come. I'm sure you will think better of it, Hugh dear; and it would be such a comfort to me if you would."

"At anyrate don't tell Agnes to-day, till I have had time to think it over. Do as much as that for me, John."

"I think I may promise that," answered John. "Hugh, we've had such a beautiful sermon this morning on, 'Able to keep you from falling;' it has helped me ever so much."

Then John left the room, and Hugh got up and walked round the table, and stood in front of the new frame: he stood long and silently, and did not move till the others came in.

"You are not dressed," said Alice; "we shall be late after all!"

"I shan't take long," said Hugh, hurriedly leaving the room.

"There is time yet," said John; "don't be a fidget, Alice. Is Minnie going to take her beloved baby?"

"Of course I am. Do you suppose I'm such a bad mamma that I should neglect my children?"

John laughed merrily. "Sometimes mothers like to show them off; that's one way, you know. Minnie."

"Well, you're not a mother, so you can't judge," answered Minnie saucily.

"Oh, that's it! Very well. But if you don't mind, I'll play 'father;'

and see if you don't find the tables are turned."

John shook his head so comically that Minnie hugged her new treasure closer, and retired behind Agnes, who said:

"You may trust John, Minnie; he will not do you or Dolly any harm."

"But I don't like being teased," said Minnie, looking shy; "I'd a great deal rather not, please John."

Just then Hugh came in, looking very fresh and nice, and the girls threw on their shawls and went in next door, bonnetless for once.

As they all crowded up their grandmama's steps, John felt a twitch at his coat, and Hugh's voice whispered:

"I'm awfully sorry now, John; and I'll promise."

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

CHAPTER XIV.

_CHRISTMAS-DAY._

Though it was only three o'clock on this Christmas-day, the curtains of their grandmother's pleasant drawing-room were drawn, the gas was lighted, and everything was as bright and cosy as possible.

"Hurrah for Christmas!" said Hugh, sitting down on a stool at his aunt's feet.

She smiled, glancing up at her three nieces in their soft, warm, white dresses, so sweet and simple; their only ornament, a rosebud on a spray of maidenhair, which John had procured for them at Covent Garden late the evening before.

"Now, 'ain't they a pictur'?'" he asked, bending to kiss his grandmother, though he had seen her once before that day, for he had run in the first thing to wish her a happy Christmas.

Their grandmother looked as if she thought so.

"Are you very hungry, dears?" asked Aunt Phyllis.

"Not particularly," answered Agnes; "we had some biscuits when we came home."

"Grandmama did not wish to dine before four, but I am afraid this will seem a long hour to you."

"Oh, no," answered John, "we are not so famished as all that."

"I have brought down some old interesting books for you boys," said Mrs.

Headley, "and I want Agnes to help me with this piece of work."

She held up a roll of coa.r.s.e canvas, only just begun, and asked Agnes to spread it out on the hearthrug.

Hugh had to get up, which he did with a lazy groan, while the girls took the different corners and held them down, Hugh taking a fourth, for the canvas would roll up again.

"Grandmama, what a lordly piece of work," said Agnes; "it will be a long task."

"Yes," answered Mrs. Headley; "but do you guess what it is?"

John, who was standing behind the rest, made them laugh by saying:

"I expect it's a mat for a flower vase."

"I expect nothing of the kind," said Hugh, bending down to examine it; "but I shall not hazard an opinion till the rest have ventured to say."

Their grandmother looked amused. "Well?" she asked, turning to Alice.

"I should say it is a fender-stool."

"It is too coa.r.s.e," suggested wise little Minnie.

"And much too wide," said John.

"Then I'll tell you," laughed Hugh; "for I believe I'm right."

"As usual," stuck in Alice mischievously.

"Oh, hush!" said Aunt Phyllis, looking up, "it is Christmas-day."