f himself.'

"'Oh, I don't know,' I said thoughtfully. 'Provided the girl were
clever as well as nice, she could handle Kirke easily. Now I may not
be the nicest girl in the world, but no one can deny that I am clever.'

"Father swallowed helplessly. Then he rallied. 'By the way, Connie,
won't you come down to Burlington with me for a couple of days? I have
a lot of work to do there, and we can have a nice little honeymoon all
by ourselves. What do you say?'

"'Oh, thank you, father, that is lovely. Let's go on the noon train,
shall we? I can be ready.'

"'All right, just fine.' He flashed a triumphant glance at Aunt Grace
and she dimpled her approval.

"'Now don't tell any one we are going, father,' I cautioned him. 'I
want to surprise Kirke Connor. He is going to Burlington on that train
himself, and it will be such a joke on him to find us there ready to be
entertained. He is to be there several days, so he can amuse me while
you are busy. Isn't it lovely? He really needs a little boosting now,
and it is our duty, and--will you press my suit, Auntie? I must fly or
I won't be ready.'

"Aunt Grace looked reproachfully at father, and father looked
despairingly at Aunt Grace. But we had a splendid time in Burlington,
the three of us, for father never did one second's work all the time,
he was so deathly afraid to leave me alone with Kirke.

"Isn't it lots of fun to be alive, Carol? So many thrilling and
interesting and happy things come up every day,--I love to dig in and
work hard, and how I love to drop my work at five thirty and run home
and doll up, and play, and flirt--just nice, harmless flirting,--and
sing, and talk,--really, it is a darling little old world, isn't it?

"Oh, and by the way, Carol, when you want a divorce just write me about
it. Mr. Nesbitt and I specialize on divorces, and I can do the whole
thing myself and save you lots of trouble. Just tell me when, and I
will furnish your motive.

"Lovingly as always,

"Connie."

CHAPTER VI

THE HEAVY YOKE

The burden of ministering rested very lightly on Carol's slender
shoulders. The endless procession of missionary meetings, aid
societies, guilds and boards, afforded her a childish delight and did
not sap her enthusiasm to the slightest degree. She went out of her
little manse each new day, laughing, and returned, wearily perhaps, but
still laughing. She sang light-heartedly with the youth of the church,
because