"I thought I should see it more up here than downstairs."
"And he thought," added Hugh slyly, "that I should have the benefit of it here."
"I never thought of you at all," said John.
"It is very nice," said Agnes, coming in to examine it.
The others went down stairs, and the brother and sister were left alone.
"I've been thinking a lot, Agnes," said John, turning his back to her, as he busied himself at one of his drawers, "and I've made up my mind while I've been tracing the words of that text."
"What about?" asked Agnes, with a feeling that there was something unusual in his tone.
"I've determined to take it as my life text."
"John!"
"Yes. It seemed so horrid without mother, and I've been thinking about it, on and off, for a year past; and to-day, as I painted those words. I thought——"