"I"m afraid Christmas-day is not a coat of steel mail, auntie," said Hugh.
"Steel mail?" she asked, wondering at his serious tone.
"Doesn"t make us quite invulnerable."
"No, no; nothing does that while we have such a traitor inside us; but it does help us to have "goodwill to men.""
Hugh glanced at John--a glance which was noticed but not understood by several there.
"But Hugh has not told us after all what he guesses about grandmama"s work," said Aunt Phyllis.
"It"s a mat to put in front of your stand of flowers."
"You are nearest," said his grandmother, smiling, "but you are not quite right."
"Then what is it, grandma?" asked Minnie.
"It is a worked hearthrug for your dear mother and father, which I hope to get finished by the time they come home."
"Oh!" exclaimed Minnie, opening her eyes very wide, "will it ever get done?"
"Yes; if I have health and strength," answered Mrs. Headley.
"I am sure they will like it very much," said Alice; "but what is Agnes to help in?"
"Only to plan out the pattern at the corners for me."
"You can buy these things traced out," said Hugh, "for I"ve seen them tied up by the corners in the fancy shops."
"You have not seen _these_ things," said his grandmother, "they are far too old-fashioned to suit peoples" notions now-a-days."
"Well, if it"s all like the piece you"ve done they haven"t got good taste, that"s all I can say."
Mrs. Headley then told Agnes where her difficulty lay, and she and the two boys were soon deep in the discussion of how the pattern was to be "mitred" for the corner, the boys going down on their knees and showing the greatest interest.
Aunt Phyllis stood looking on with a smile, happy in seeing four people entirely happy, content to leave her advice out, if an hour should be pa.s.sed in peaceful occupation.
Minnie had turned to her beloved doll, and while the others were so busy Alice condescended to draw near her, and was soon playing with it as heartily as her little sister.
All were surprised when at four o"clock the dinner bell pealed forth, and John exclaimed:
"Auntie, we"ve accomplished it! I really thought it never was going to come."
"I"m "going to come" down to dinner," said Hugh, "so help me roll it up, John, for grandmama"s awfully particular about her work, arn"t you grandma?"
Mrs. Headley nodded, well pleased with the compliment, and then John gave his arm to his grandmother, and they all went down.
When dinner was over they returned to the drawing-room, and their aunt produced some new games which she had been half over London to procure for them.
They all gathered round the oval table, which stood in one corner, and quickly took up the idea of the game, Aunt Phyllis making one of them.
Minnie was too young for what Hugh called its intricacies, and contented herself with dividing her attention in a threefold manner between her grandmother, her doll, and the cat.
After tea they sang together, and the girls played a duet which they had practised for the occasion, finishing with some hymns in which all could join.
"This has been a happy Christmas in spite of their being away," said Alice, sighing deeply, as they stood round the fire before going home.
"And yet you sigh," said Hugh.
"Yes," answered Alice; "I do wish they were here, and I do wonder how they are getting on; but all the same, I"ve had a happy day."
"That"s right, my dear," said Aunt Phyllis; "I am sure your dear parents would be glad to know it."
They stood soberly thinking for a few minutes. Agnes"s eyes resting on John"s face with an earnest look.
"For some things I wish they could know," she said at last.
"So do I," said Alice; but Agnes noticed that John and Hugh said nothing.
When they went home they found a fire in the dining-room, but Agnes proposed they should go at once to bed.
"May I help you to lock up, instead of John?" asked Hugh.
Agnes looked surprised, but said "Yes," though she would much have preferred her usual companion.
The rest wished good night, and went upstairs, and Agnes and Hugh turned to the lower regions.
When they came back to the warm lighted room, and Hugh had turned out the gas, he said hesitatingly.
"Agnes, I"m afraid you will be very angry with me, very upset about it, but I never thought it was so wrong in me, or I am sure I should never have done it."
"Done what, Hugh?" asked Agnes, trembling and trying to keep her voice natural.
"I was out with Tom----"
"Yes, Hugh. Don"t be afraid to say, dear; only do tell me quick."
"We were hungry, and we went in and had some lunch."
"Well?" she said, feeling as if her heart would stand still, in her fear of she knew not what.
"I was thirsty, and Tom said ginger-beer was ridiculous on Christmas-day, and he persuaded me----"
"To do what?" asked Agnes.
"To have a gla.s.s of beer," answered Hugh very low. "I saw no harm in it, as I had not signed; but John is awfully mad with me, and I"ve come to see that it was utterly horrid of me not to stand up against him."
"So long as you are sorry," said Agnes with a bitter sigh.
"Agnes, I am worse than sorry; I am dreadfully ashamed."