her mind rested
upon this subject, there came into it a plan which pleased her. Here
were all these delegates, many of them looking tired and pale, as if
they had been hard-worked during the winter, and here was she, the
mistress of the _Summer Shelter_, about to take a trip to warm and sunny
regions with an almost empty vessel.

As soon as the meeting adjourned, Mrs. Cliff, accompanied by Mrs.
Arkwright, made her way to the front, where many of the members were
standing together, and was introduced by her friend to several clergymen
with whom Mrs. Arkwright was acquainted. As soon as possible Mrs. Cliff
referred to the subject which was upon her mind, and informed the
gentlemen with whom she had just been made acquainted, that if they
thought well of it she would like to invite a party of such of the
delegates who would care for such an excursion at this season, to
accompany her on a short trip to the West Indies. Her vessel would
easily accommodate twelve or fifteen of the gentlemen, and she would
prefer to offer her invitation first to the clerical members of the
Synod.

The reverend gentlemen to whom this offer was made were a little
surprised by it, but they could not help considering it was a most
generous and attractive proposition, and one of them undertook to convey
the invitation to some of his brethren of the Synod.

[Illustration: MRS. CLIFF'S INVITATION WAS DISCUSSED WITH LIVELY
APPRECIATION]

Although the Synod had adjourned, many of the delegates remained for a
considerable time, during which Mrs. Cliff's invitation was discussed
with lively appreciation, some of the speakers informing her that if
they could make the arrangements necessary for their pulpits and their
families during a short absence, they would be delighted to accept her
invitation. The Synod would finally adjourn on the next Tuesday, and she
was promised that before that time she would be informed of the exact
number of guests she might expect.

The next morning when Mr. Burke appeared to accompany the ladies to the
yacht, he found Willy Croup alone in their parlor.

"Do you know what's happened?" cried Willy, springing towards him as he
entered. "Of course you don't, for Mrs. Cliff is going to give the first
country week on the _Summer Shelter_ to a Synod!"

"To a what?" cried Burke.

"A Synod," explained Willy. "It's a congregation, I mean a meeting,
mostly of ministers, come together to settle church matters. She invited
the