John’s Troubles. 4l

 

steady his voice. “It was too bad of me this
afternoon, and I'll just go and say so to Mr.
Mason, and to Mr. Moore too.”

Stephen’s heart sank. What dreadful thing
was this that his brother was going to do?
He trembled to think of it.

But Johnnie rushed downstairs as if his
spirits had returned to him, and darted into
the kitchen to his aunt.

“TI am very sorry,” he said eagerly. “I
want to go and tell them.”

Mrs, Baynes quite understood what he
meant, and smiled with pleasure as she an-
swered, “You are right, my boy;” but there
was a depth of satisfaction in her tone that
made Stephen glad of his brother’s deci-
sion, terrible as it appeared to him. Johnnie
was out of the house and speeding away on
his errand before any more could be said,
though as he came near the Rectory his pace
slackened a little, and a certain shyness made
his cheeks burn again. But he was fortunate
in the moment of his arrival, for the rector
was walking in his garden, and the very Mr.
Mason himself at his side.

They were talking very earnestly, and did
not notice the approaching footsteps till John
stood close beside them; then they turned