"I dare say," said Alice, her eyes sparkling with displeasure; "and so because we are girls we are not to be trusted with anything, while because you are boys—for no other reason—you——"
She paused, Agnes's face stopped her, and then her eyes turned to John's, and she noticed that his were fixed earnestly on the text, which was just touched by the morning sunshine, as it crept silently along the wall—
"Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?"
"Oh, John," she said softly; "I quite forgot."
And then they all noticed that John had not forgotten.
At Hugh's first angry word, just as he was turning to answer, the light on the text caught his attention, and his promise to Agnes flashed across him; his promise that while their parents were away he would try with might and main to refrain from quarrelling with his brother.
There was a few moments' silence, while each of the five assembled there had time to remember their resolves, and to ask for strength to keep them.
At last Alice spoke. "Do you mind telling us. Agnes, what you are going to do then?"
"Well, you know my morning Sunday-school class that I have given up to another teacher while mother is away?"
Alice nodded.