t was time to start for church, and John went down to find his sisters.
His face was pale, and there was a disappointed look about him which was very unusual in the bright boy.
Agnes saw it, and walked along by his side, trying to think of something cheering to say. But, after all, when the heart is sore there is only One who can truly comfort.
Alice and Minnie had gone in to fetch aunt Phyllis, so the brother and sister were alone.
"Agnes," exclaimed John at last, when they came in sight of the church, "I'm so vexed with myself, so 'taken down a peg,' if you can comprehend such a phrase."
He gave a little sad laugh to hide a deeper feeling which Agnes perfectly understood.
"It's dreadfully unpleasant," she answered, "but I've gone through it before now."
"You?"
"Heaps of times. Don't you suppose, John, we all trust in ourselves ever so much too much?"