John glanced at Hugh, but his face did not invite conversation, so he took up his new book and sat down in the window. "What a smell of beer!" he suddenly exclaimed. "I wonder what it is?" Hugh turned scarlet. "I've had a glass," he said defiantly. "_You?_" said John, too surprised to hide his grieved dismay. "There's no sin in that, I hope," answered Hugh coldly. John thought a moment. "No--no, Hugh, I don't know that there is." "Then why blame a fellow?" "I don't think I blamed you; at least, not in words. But----" "Have it out then. Cut me up to your heart's content." "I wouldn't for the world, Hugh, dear boy. What would father have wished you to do?" "He never bound us." "I think he did. He never thought we should wish to take any till we were of an age to decide for ourselves." "Don't you call fourteen old enough? Tom says he calls it absurd to tie us down to an idea." "Tom knows nothing about it, Hugh." "How doesn't he?" "Nothing about father's opinions, nor the principle of the thing." "Do you mean to say father has ever forbidden me?" "Perhaps not in so many words." "Do you think he would have, if I had waited to ask him?" "I believe so." "I did not do it as an act of disobedience," said Hugh, "and your making it out so is horrid. I thought I was free to take it if I liked, so long as I didn't take much." John sat down by the fire, his face grave and troubled. "Hugh," he exclaimed, in a beseeching tone, "say you won't be tempted to take it again till father comes home. Oh, Hugh, I would give everything I possess if you hadn't!" Hugh was silent. In his present mood he did not feel inclined to promise. "Where's the harm?" he asked at last. "Father trusted us not to take it till we were old enough to judge of its dangers; he said we must take his judgment till then." "And how long was that to last?" "I don't know, but I was quite willing to leave it till then. Hugh, what does our text say, as father is not here?" John's voice was low, and his face full of feeling. "I hadn't _that_ to look at out there!" murmured Hugh. "No. Oh, Hugh, _say_ you will not again till they come home?" "I'm sure I wish I had not, now you say so much about it. John, you won't tell the girls?" "Not 'the girls;' but I must tell Agnes." "Then I shan't promise!" John was staggered for a moment, but after an instant he said: "I must not do evil that good may come. I'm sure you will think better of it, Hugh dear; and it would be such a comfort to me if you would." "At anyrate don't tell Agnes to-day, till I have had time to think it over. Do as much as that for me, John." "I think I may promise that," answered John. "Hugh, we've had such a beautiful sermon this morning on, 'Able to keep you from falling;' it has helped me ever so much." Then John left the room, and Hugh got up and walked round the table, and stood in front of the new frame: he stood long and silently, and did not move till the others came in.