"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: