-let us unite in reading
the--ah-huh-huh-huh. Let us sing--h-h-h-h-hem--well, let us unite in
prayer then--ah-chooo! ah-choooooo!"

"Where did you put those cough-drops?" he demanded. "But even at that
it is better than you would do. 'Just as soon as I powder my face we
will unite in singing hymn one hundred thirty-six. Oh, excuse me a
minute,--I believe I feel a cold-sore coming,--I have a mirror right
here, and it won't take a minute. Now, I am ready. Let us arise and
sing,--but since I can not sing I will just polish my nails while the
rest of you do it. Ready, go!'"

Carol laughed at the picture, but marched off for the bottle of cough
medicine and the powder box, and while he carefully measured out a
teaspoonful of the one for himself, she applied the other with gay
devotion.

"But I truly think you should not go to Happy Hollow to-night," she
said. "Mr. Baldwin will go with me, bless his faithful old pillary
heart. And you ought to stay in. It is very stormy, and that long
walk--"

"Oh, nonsense, a little cough like this! You are dead tired yourself;
you stay at home to-night, and Baldwin and I will go. You really ought
to, Carol, you are on the jump every minute. Won't you?"

"Most certainly not. I haven't a cold, have I? Maybe you want to keep
me away so you can flirt with some of the Hollowers while I am out of
sight. Absolutely vetoed. I go."

"Please, Carol,--won't you? Because I ask it?"

She snuggled up to him at that and said: "It's too lonesome, Davie, and
I have to go to remind you of your rubbers, and to muffle up your
throat. But--"

The ring of the telephone disturbed them, and she ran to answer.

"Mr. Baldwin?--Yes--Oh, that is nice of you. I've been trying to coax
him to stay home myself. David, Mr. Baldwin thinks you should not go
out to-night, with such a cold, and he will take the meeting, and--oh,
please, honey."

David took the receiver from her hand.

"Thanks very much, Mr. Baldwin, that is mighty kind of you, but I feel
fine to-night.--Oh, sure, just a little cold. Yes, of course. Come
and go with us, won't you? Yes, be here about seven. Better make it a
quarter earlier, it's bad walking to-night."

"David, please," coaxed Carol.

"Goosie! Who but a wife would make an invalid of a man because he
sneezes?" David laughed, and Carol said no more.

But a few minutes later, as she was carefully arranging a soft fur hat
over her hair and David stood pati