These were soon on; and the room began to look "like a room," as John said.

"Might that window be grey ground gla.s.s, or might it be dirt?" asked Hugh, going up to examine it, and drawing his finger down it.

The question did not need answering, for he left a line of clear gla.s.s behind him.

"Wait till I've got the rest of my furniture up, and then I'll see to things," said John.

"The rest of it?" laughed Hugh. "I think this is all of it; the rest belongs to me."

"Hugh, you're a cheat! Do you mean to say I'm not to have a chair?"

"Oh, yes, I'll spare you a chair!"

"And that little table's my _own_; so now, Mr. Hugh!"

"So it is; what a bore! Why I was perfectly counting on that table when your things were gone off it."

"Very likely; you're sold there! But what shall I do to wash on? I dare say Agnes has got a basin somewhere."

"There's an odd set in here!" exclaimed Hugh, springing up and hurrying into the box room next door.

John followed quickly enough, and to his joy found an old mahogany stand which would do very well for the crockery which he discovered on a top shelf covered with dust.

"How shall we wash it?" he asked.

"I'll get our towels; Agnes'll _have_ to give us clean ones."

They pulled about the boxes and things till they had secured their prize, and then went back in triumph to John's "castle."

"Hugh, I shall never have you in here," said John.

"Grateful," said Hugh.

"I mean, without asking."

"Oh, of course not! Nor I you."

"I must come in when I want my things out of my drawer," said John ruefully.

"What a pity we can't find a chest to match that jimcrack in the corner!"

"Let's go and see."

No sooner said than done, and sure enough there was a set, but on looking every drawer was full.

The boys were now so thoroughly in the spirit of the thing that they forgot all caution, and after a rapid glance to see where they could stow the things, out they bundled them heap on heap, till the drawers were empty, then they paused and looked at each other.

"I say, Hugh, we are in for it now; I don't believe we ought to have done this."

"It can't be helped now; we must eat humble pie."

"Look here, I won't do a thing more of this sort. Here's a precious mess for that poor Agnes, and I scouted the idea of giving her any trouble."

"She'll be home soon, if she isn't now."

"Then let's make haste. Fetch up my things. Hugh, will you?"

Hugh ran down and soon brought up a drawer full, and hastened off for another. For the girls to see it before it was accomplished and in order, would spoil everything.

"Now for the window," exclaimed John; "and my pictures. I say, there's no carpet."

"Do without."

"I shall have to."

"There's lots in there," nodding towards the box-room.

[Ill.u.s.tration "Out they bundled them heap on heap, till the drawers were empty." _p. 166._]

"Not I," answered John. "I'm not fond of this sort of thing, Hugh; I wish I'd waited."

"Well, make the best of it now," said Hugh; "we have done no _harm_."

"Oh, no!" said John.

John was hard at work on the window, making his towel in a worse mess than it was before, when an exclamation from Hugh made him turn round.

"They're coming up," he called excitedly. "All three of 'em. I can hear their voices."

For Jane had said, in answer to Agnes's enquiry as to where her brothers were:

"Right at the top, I believe, miss."

So up they came, and all Hugh's "humble pie" was demolished before he had time to produce it.

"John! Hugh! whatever _are_ you after? Are you gone out of your wits?"

"Come and look, Agnes," said John, hurrying to her, "and don't be vexed, there's a darling. I wanted a room to myself, and we meant to surprise you; but when we'd got half through it I began to fear you would be more than surprised."

An hour or two ago Agnes would have been vexed, almost angry; now she had been to the Fountain of Strength, and coming refreshed from Him she answered gently:

"I can't say that I would rather you had done it, but I'll try to like it if you wish."

She kissed their hot, dusty faces and looked round.

"If you point out anything wrong I'll say 'Hugh did it,'" smiled John, "and he is to say 'John did it' if he is blamed."

"I see," answered Agnes.