me. Can't boss me. I won't
be bossed. I like to boss myself. I won't let my beautiful old David
go off out there to flirt with the nurses and Indian girls and whoever
else is out there. I should say not. I'll stick right along, and
whenever a woman turns our way, I'll shout, 'Married! He is mine!'"

[Illustration: "Silly old goose," she murmured.]

David laughed at her passionate discussion to herself.

"Besides, I have been learning a lot of things. I've been talking to
the doctor privately when you couldn't hear."

"Indeed!"

"Oh, yes, and we are great friends. He says if we just live clean,
white, sanitary lives, I am safe. I must keep strong and fat, and the
germs can't get a start. And he has been telling me lots of nice
things to do. David, I know I can help you. The doctor said so. He
says I must be happy and gay, and be positively sure you will be well
again in time, and I can do you more good than a tonic. Yes, he said
that very thing, Doctor O'Hara did. Now please beg my pardon, and
maybe I'll forgive you."

David promptly did, and peace was restored.

A committee of brotherly ministers was sent out from the Presbytery to
find how things were going in the little manse in the Heights. Very
gently, very tenderly they made their inquiries of Carol, and Carol
answered frankly.

"With the furniture money we have six hundred dollars," she told them,
rather proudly.

"That's just fine. It will take you to Albuquerque and keep you
straight for a few months, and by that time we'll have things in hand
back here. You know, Mrs. Duke, you and David belong to us and we are
going to see you through. And then when it is all over we'll get him a
church out there,--why, everything is going splendidly. Now remember,
it may be a few months, or it may be ten years, but we are back of you
and we are going to see you through. Don't ever wonder where next
month's board is to come from. It will come. It isn't charity, Mrs.
Duke. It is just the big brotherhood of the church, that's all. We
are going to be your brothers, and fathers, and--mothers, too, if you
will have us."

The devoted mansers rallied around them, weeping over them, giving them
good advice along with other more material, but not more helpful,
assistance and declaring they always knew David was too good to live.
And when Carol resentfully assured them that David was still very much
alive, and maybe wasn't as good as they thought,