night it's no use."

But Mr. Codman, who was now wide awake, and well understood the
distress which agitated his wife, without the squeeze she was giving his
hand, and her continual "Oh dear! Oh, my poor baby!" now said, firmly,--

"We wont waste words about it. We must go to Easton parsonage as quickly
as possible."

"I'll take the short cut, then, across the moor. The moon is so bright I
can keep out of the ruts."

"But then we lose the chance of seeing them. They may have found out
the mistake earlier, and be on the way to meet us. Drive on!"

But driver still demurred, muttering that it was a bad job, and he
couldn't be going over the ground four times without good pay.

"How much do you want for yourself?" asked the gentleman. "I hire the
carriage by the month."

"A couple of dollars is little enough."

"I'll give you three; now drive on."

The carriage door shut with a snap, and they started off, driver lashing
his horses with the whip.

"We must look out that they don't pass us," said the clergyman.

"I'll keep watch," responded Aunt Fanny, decidedly. "I wonder what Josey
would say if he were awake?"

"If our driver had been a father," exclaimed Mrs. Codman, "he wouldn't
have asked why one wouldn't do as well as t'other."

"Hem!" exclaimed Aunt Fanny, indignantly. "'Twouldn't have hurt the man
to have heard your sermon to-night, brother. I don't think he's very
kind, any way."

"He was probably at the ale-house, and had taken enough to make him
cross."

"Had he heard you describe how God rewards our love to others by peace
in our own hearts, he would have been more kind."

"Well, Fanny, be as tender in your thoughts as you can. It is hard for
the man to lose three or four hours of his sleep."

"O, you always are ready to find excuses!" she answered, laughing.

"I ought to practise what I preach, oughtn't I?" He looked archly in her
face.

"I hope Emma wont wake," said mamma, anxiously. "Little Rosa sleeps as
quietly as a kitten. How strange that none of us noticed the change."

"It's no joke," said Fanny, though she could not help laughing.

They were going over a rough part of the road, and Josey, after growing
restless, suddenly started up.

"Are we most home?" he asked in a sleepy tone.

"We'll get there by and by," answered his father, cheerfully.

"I'm afraid we shall have to go all the way to Mr. Matthews'," said
mamma. "Next time, I'll dress baby myself.'

"Miss Fanny sent m