The Contrast. 19

 

blows and harder words; and just now the
love seemed too much for him, and made it
all the harder to stop crying.

Indeed the church bells were ringing before
Stephen could be persuaded to hold up his
head, and he had only time to wash his face
and make himself presentable before his aunt
took him with her to church.

There all was strange; he could not re-
member ever going to church before, and the
service was quite incomprehensible to him.
But his morning’s trouble seemed to have
loosed his tongue ; he asked various questions
as he went home, and showed his aunt how
much she would have to teach him.

Then when Johnnie begged to know what
had made him run away from school, Stephen
found words to tell him all about it.

Johnnie crimsoned.

“What a shame!” he cried in great wrath.
“You show me to-morrow who said it, and
see if I won’t knock him down for his impu-
dence.”

“Johnnie!” cried his aunt so severely that
Stephen quite started.

“T beg your pardon, aunt ; but really he
deserves it.”

“Deserves! Oh, Johnnie, I hope we shall