CHAPTER XIV.
_CHRISTMAS-DAY._
Though it was only three o'clock on this Christmas-day, the curtains oftheir grandmother's pleasant drawing-room were drawn, the gas waslighted, and everything was as bright and cosy as possible.
"Hurrah for Christmas!" said Hugh, sitting down on a stool at his aunt'sfeet.
She smiled, glancing up at her three nieces in their soft, warm, whitedresses, so sweet and simple; their only ornament, a rosebud on a sprayof maidenhair, which John had procured for them at Covent Garden latethe evening before.
"Now, 'ain't they a pictur'?'" he asked, bending to kiss hisgrandmother, though he had seen her once before that day, for he had runin the first thing to wish her a happy Christmas.
Their grandmother looked as if she thought so.
"Are you very hungry, dears?" asked Aunt Phyllis.
"Not particularly," answered Agnes; "we had some biscuits when we camehome."
"Grandmama did not wish to dine before four, but I am afraid this willseem a long hour to you."
"Oh, no," answered John, "we are not so famished as all that."
"I have brought down some old interesting books for you boys," said Mrs.Headley, "and I want Agnes to help me with this piece of work."
She held up a roll of coarse canvas, only just begun, and asked Agnes tospread it out on the hearthrug.
Hugh had to get up, which he did with a lazy groan, while the girls tookthe different corners and held them down, Hugh taking a fourth, for thecanvas would roll up again.
"Grandmama, what a lordly piece of work," said Agnes; "it will be a longtask."
"Yes," answered Mrs. Headley; "but do you guess what it is?"
John, who was standing behind the rest, made them laugh by saying:
"I expect it's a mat for a flower vase."
"I expect nothing of the kind," said Hugh, bending down to examine it;"but I shall not hazard an opinion till the rest have ventured to say."
Their grandmother looked amused. "Well?" she asked, turning to Alice.
"I should say it is a fender-stool."
"It is too coarse," suggested wise little Minnie.
"And much too wide," said John.
"Then I'll tell you," laughed Hugh; "for I believe I'm right."
"As usual," stuck in Alice mischievously.
"Oh, hush!" said Aunt Phyllis, looking up, "it is Christmas-day."
"I'm afraid Christmas-day is not a coat of steel mail, auntie," saidHugh.
"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; butit does help us to have 'goodwill to men.'"
Hugh glanced at John--a glance which was noticed but not understood byseveral there.
"But Hugh has not told us after all what he guesses about grandmama'swork," 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 quiteright."
"Then what is it, grandma?" asked Minnie.
"It is a worked hearthrug for your dear mother and father, which I hopeto get finished by the time they come home."
"Oh!" exclaimed Minnie, opening her eyes very wide, "will it ever getdone?"
"Yes; if I have health and strength," answered Mrs. Headley.
"I am sure they will like it very much," said Alice; "but what is Agnesto 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 themtied up by the corners in the fancy shops."
"You have not seen _these_ things," said his grandmother, "they are fartoo old-fashioned to suit peoples' notions now-a-days."
"Well, if it's all like the piece you've done they haven't got goodtaste, that's all I can say."
Mrs. Headley then told Agnes where her difficulty lay, and she and thetwo 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 showingthe greatest interest.
Aunt Phyllis stood looking on with a smile, happy in seeing four peopleentirely happy, content to leave her advice out, if an hour should bepassed in peaceful occupation.
Minnie had turned to her beloved doll, and while the others were so busyAlice condescended to draw near her, and was soon playing with it asheartily 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 tocome."
"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 yougrandma?"
Mrs. Headley nodded, well pleased with the compliment, and then Johngave his arm to his grandmother, and they all went down.
When dinner was over they returned to the drawing-room, and their auntproduced some new games which she had been half over London to procurefor them.
They all gathered round the oval table, which stood in one corner, andquickly took up the idea of the game, Aunt Phyllis making one of them.Minnie was too young for what Hugh called its intricacies, and contentedherself with dividing her attention in a threefold manner between hergrandmother, her doll, and the cat.
After tea they sang together, and the girls played a duet which they hadpractised for the occasion, finishing with some hymns in which all couldjoin.
"This has been a happy Christmas in spite of their being away," saidAlice, 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 howthey 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 parentswould be glad to know it."
They stood soberly thinking for a few minutes. Agnes's eyes resting onJohn'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 saidnothing.
When they went home they found a fire in the dining-room, but Agnesproposed 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 havepreferred her usual companion.
The rest wished good night, and went upstairs, and Agnes and Hugh turnedto the lower regions.
When they came back to the warm lighted room, and Hugh had turned outthe 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 neverhave done it."
"Done what, Hugh?" asked Agnes, trembling and trying to keep her voicenatural.
"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 fearof she knew not what.
"I was thirsty, and Tom said ginger-beer was ridiculous onChristmas-day, and he persuaded me----"
"To do what?" asked Agnes.
"To have a glass 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 tosee 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."
"Nay, dear," she answered, rousing herself and putting her hand roundhim, "let it only draw you closer to Him who will forgive us if we ask."
"I felt I could not look anyone in the face. Ought I to have told them?"
"I hardly know. Oh, Hugh dear, it is not so much the drink
ing a glass ofbeer. I would not wish to condemn anyone for doing that, if it were allopen and above board; though of course I have long ago made up my mindabout it. But I think where you feel wrong has been that you _felt_ youwere doing what father would disapprove, and you had not courage toresist."
"Yes," said Hugh sorrowfully.
"So that is what you want to confess to Him, and ask to have pardoned?"
They were silent, looking into the fire.
"I thought you'd scold me awfully," he said at last.
"Did you?" asked Agnes; "you should go to somebody who has not sinnedherself if you want that."
"But you've never been tempted to go and take advantage of your parents'being away, and do exactly as you knew they'd hate you to do."
"No," answered Agnes, "my temptations may not be the same as yours, andyet I've just as much to be sorry for when I go to my Lord as you have."
"_Just_ as much?" asked Hugh, looking in her face, "do you mean thatreally, Agnes."
"Yes, I do. I'm thankful every day of my life, that these words arewritten: "Who forgiveth _all_ thine iniquities."
Hugh put his arms round her.
"Then you forgive me, Agnes?" he asked.
"All my share of it, dear. But----"
"Mother and father?"
"Oh, no, I was not thinking of them! I am sure they will----"
"I know what you mean," said Hugh very softly, "and I'll go to Him."
He left the room without another word, and Agnes had to do the rest ofher locking-up alone. Blinded with tears she went to every room, andthen ascended to her own chamber.
Alice and Minnie were in bed, and asleep.
She went and stood at the dressing-table, slowly unpinning her rose,when her eye fell upon a Christmas card, which had been given her byHugh himself that very morning.
"_Jesus_: for He shall save His people from their sins."
She opened her door, crossed the landing, and tapped at Hugh's.
"Look here!" she said, handing it in, and bending to kiss him.
He looked at the words, then up in her face, and there was that in hiseyes which made Agnes say:
"Hugh! you've been to Him?"
And Hugh whispered an earnest "Yes."