, too!" she replied ruefully. Then
before he could speak, she went on: "Never mind the piano; that can
wait. What I've got on my mind just now isn't piano; it's potatoes.
Do you know, I saw some the other day at Rasbach's, splendid
potatoes--these are some of them--and fifteen cents a bushel cheaper
than those dried-up old things Brother Barnum keeps, and so I bought two
bushels. And Sister Barnum met me on the street this morning, and threw
it in my face that the Discipline commands us to trade with each other.
Is there any such command?"

"Yes," said the husband. "It's Section 33. Don't you remember? I looked
it up in Tyre. We are to 'evidence our desire of salvation by doing
good, especially to them that are of the household of faith, or groaning
so to be; by employing them preferably to others; buying one of another;
helping each other in business'--and so on. Yes, it's all there."

"Well, I told her I didn't believe it was," put in Alice, "and I said
that even if it was, there ought to be another section about selling
potatoes to their minister for more than they're worth--potatoes that
turn all green when you boil them, too. I believe I'll read up that old
Discipline myself, and see if it hasn't got some things that I can talk
back with."

"The very section before that, Number 32, enjoins members against
'uncharitable or unprofitable conversation--particularly speaking evil
of magistrates or ministers.' You'd have 'em there, I think." Theron had
begun cheerfully enough, but the careworn, preoccupied look returned now
to his face. "I'm sorry if we've fallen out with the Barnums," he said.
"His brother-in-law, Davis, the Sunday-school superintendent, is a
member of the Quarterly Conference, you know, and I've been hoping that
he was on my side. I've been taking a good deal of pains to make up to
him."

He ended with a sigh, the pathos of which impressed Alice. "If you think
it will do any good," she volunteered, "I'll go and call on the Davises
this very afternoon. I'm sure to find her at home,--she's tied hand
and foot with that brood of hers--and you'd better give me some of that
candy for them."

Theron nodded his approval and thanks, and relapsed into silence. When
the meal was over, he brought out the confectionery to his wife, and
without a word went back to that remarkable book.

When Alice returned toward the close of day, to prepare the simple tea
which was always laid a half-hour earlier on Thursday