John Monday, taken by surprise at the question, grew very red, and looked as guilty as though he had been caught in the act of doing something wrong.
"I—I—I've been to church," he stammered.
Mr. Harding scrutinised him severely, and came to the conclusion that he had told an untruth.
"I don't believe you," he said; adding, with a sneer, "You must think of a more likely tale than that if you want me to believe it."
"It's true!" the boy declared, with rising passion. "I'm not telling a lie! I'm not!"
"Oh, Cousin Robert, how can you think John has not spoken the truth?" Mousey interposed quickly, turning her eyes reproachfully upon the old man. "Indeed, he was at church to-night—at the mission chapel. I saw him there; and he walked home with Maria and me afterwards."
Mr. Harding appeared considerably taken aback on hearing this; but he darted a suspicious glance at his assistant, as he demanded—
"What made you grow so red, and look so embarrassed, when I questioned you as to where you had been? If you were always so harmlessly employed as you were to-night it would be better for you."
"John is going to join Mr. Bradley's Bible class, too," Mousey put in; "he saw Mr. Bradley before church this evening."
"Are you going to become a reformed character?" inquired the old man, satirically, of John Monday. "What is the meaning of this sudden change, eh?"