He spun the coin and slapped it down on his knee. His hand still covered it.
—"Come Jack, stand up and be properly excited."
"Nay," said John; "would you jest with God's purpose for you?"
"I have seen you open the Bible at random and take your omen from the first words your eyes light on. Yet I never accused you of jesting with Holy Writ. Cannot God as easily determine the fall of a coin?"
He withdrew his hand, and drew a deep breath. "Tails!" he announced, and faced his brother, smiling. "I am in earnest," he said. "But if you prefer the other way—"
He stepped to the shelf, took down his Bible and opened it, not looking himself, but holding the page under his brother's eyes.
"Well, what does it say?" he asked.
"It says," John answered, "'Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand.'"
Charles closed the Bible and restored it to its shelf; then faced his brother again, still with his inscrutable smile.