e thing to stand up there
before a houseful, of people, most of them good, and clean, and full of
faith, and try to direct their steps in the broader road. I sometimes
feel that men are not fit for it. There ought to be angels from
Heaven."

"But there are angels from Heaven watching over them, David, guiding
them, showing them how. I believe good white angels are guiding every
true minister,--not the bad ones-- Oh, I know a lot about ministers,
honey,--proud, ambitious, selfish, vainglorious, hypocritical, even
amorous, a lot of them,--but there are others, true ones,--you, David,
and some more. They just have to grow together until harvest, and then
the false ones will be dug up and dumped in the garbage."

For a while they were silent.

Finally he asked, smiling a little, "Are you getting cramped, Carol?
Are you getting narrow, and settling down to a rut? Have you lost your
enthusiasm and your sparkle?"

Carol laughed at him. "David, do you remember the first night we were
married, when we knelt down together to say our prayers and you put
your arm around my shoulder, and we prayed there, side by side?
Dearest, that one little fifteen minutes of confidence and humility and
heart-gratitude was worth all the sparkle and fire in the world. But
have I lost it? Seems to me I am as much a shouting Methodist as ever."

David laughed, coughing a little, and Carol bustled him off to bed,
sure he was catching a brand new cold, and berating herself roundly for
allowing this foolish angel of hers to get a chill right on her very
hands.

CHAPTER VII

THE FIRST STEP

It was Sunday night in mid-winter. After church, David remained for a
trustees' meeting, and Carol walked home with some of the younger ones
of the congregation. When they asked if she wished them to wait with
her for David she shook her head, smiling gratefully but with weariness.

"No, thank you. I am going right straight to bed. I am tired."

Into the little manse she crept, sinking into the first easy chair that
presented itself. With slow listless fingers she removed her wraps,
dropping them on the floor beside her,--laboriously unbuttoned and
removed her shoes, and in the same lifeless manner loosened her dress
and took the pins from her hair. Then, holding her garments about her,
she went in search of night dress, slippers and negligee. A few
seconds later she returned and curled herself up with some cushions on
the floor befo