38 The Brothers.

 

Moore’s wish to scold her passed away, and
he only talked a little while pleasantly about
her flowers, and then bade her good-bye.

Mrs. Baynes walked slowly into the house ;
called Stephen downstairs, and asked him to
get out the tea things; then went up to John,
who had taken refuge in his own room.

He was sitting on the edge of his bed
looking down gloomily, and he did not stir
as she came in, nor even when she sat
down beside him and put her hand on his
shoulder.

“My dear child, what is it all about? Did
Ned Rice say anything about Stephen ?”

“Hed made a picture of him, with a fool’s
cap on, in his hymn-book, and I wasn’t going
to look over it with him after that. I just
shoved him one way and the book the other.
And they never asked what I did it for,
but ordered me to pick it up and go on.
I wasn’t going to pick up Ned’s old book for
him, I know. They might have asked me my
reasons ; but if they like to be unfair, I’m not
going to behave myself.”

Mrs. Baynes sat silent for a few moments;
then she said suddenly—

“How long is it that you have been to
Sunday school, Johnnie?”