"Warning me! If you had had a grain of sense in your body, you'd have warned me in private, and not before a pack of girls."
"Yes," answered John, hesitating a little, "I think I ought not—not like that, but it never occurred to me; we got into it before I knew."
"That is a very poor excuse for annoying your brother, and a very cowardly way of getting out of it."
"Cowardly?" said Alice, beneath her breath, to Agnes.
But John answered, "Having acknowledged that I should have told you in private, Hugh, will you forgive me? and may I come up with you and talk it over?"
"No," exclaimed Hugh; "never mention the subject to me again."
And with that he gathered his painting materials together, and walked off, followed by Alice, who was looking grieved enough.
"Oh, Agnes!" said John, turning to her, "I meant to do right, but after all I have broken my promise on Christmas-day!"
"I can't see that you have," answered Agnes gently; "no one can guard against all difficulties."
"But I've quarrelled with him, and offended him more deeply than ever before, when I meant——"