whole lot of them, but of course they all can't come,--for there are
more than a hundred of them,--but there will be about a dozen who can
sail with us next Wednesday!"

Mr. Burke's jaw dropped. "A dozen ministers!" he exclaimed. "Sail with
us! By George! Miss Croup, will you excuse me if I sit down?"

"You know," said Willy, "that the _Summer Shelter_ was bought for this
sort of thing! That is, to do good to people who can't get that sort of
good in other ways! And if Mrs. Cliff takes out poor children from the
slums, and hard-working shopgirls, and seamstresses, why shouldn't she
take hard-working ministers and give them some fresh air and pleasure?"

"A dozen ministers!" groaned Mr. Burke. "I tell you, Miss Croup, I can't
take them in!"

"Oh, there'll be room enough!" said Willy, mistaking his meaning, "for
Mrs. Cliff says that each of those little rooms will easily hold two!"

"Oh, it isn't that!" said Burke, his eyes fixed steadfastly upon a chair
near him as if it had been something to look at. "But twelve ministers
coming down on me so sudden, rather takes me aback, Miss Croup!"

"I don't wonder," said Willy, "for I don't believe that a Synod ever
went out yachting before in a bunch!"

Mr. Burke rose and looked out of the window. "Miss Croup," said he, "do
you remember what I said about mixin' fun and charity in these cruises?
Well, I guess we'll have to take our charity straight this time!"

But when Mrs. Cliff had come in and had talked with animation and
enthusiasm in regard to her plan, the effects of the shock which Mr.
Burke had received began to wear off.

"All right, madam!" said he. "You're owner, and I'm Captain, and I'll
stand by you! And if you take it into your head to ship a dozen popes on
the _Summer Shelter_, I'll take them where you want them to go to, and
I'll bring them back safe. I suppose we'll have all sorts of customers
on the yacht this season, and if we've got to get used to queer
passengers, a Synod will do very well to begin with! If you'll find out
who's goin' and will write to them to be on hand Tuesday night, I'll
see that they're taken care of!"

Mrs. Cliff's whole heart was now in the projected cruise of the _Summer
Shelter_. When she had thought of it with only Willy and herself as
passengers, she could not help considering it was a great extravagance.
Now she was going to begin her series of sea-trips in a fashion far
superior and more dignified than anything yet thoug