wife has been sweet enough
to ask me to move my trunk over here in the morning, so that you'll see
enough of me and to spare."

Theron looked falteringly into her face, as he strove for words which
should sufficiently mask the disgust this intelligence stirred within
him. A debt-raiser in the town was bad enough! A debt-raiser quartered
in the very parsonage!--he ground his teeth to think of it.

Alice read his hesitation aright. "Sister Soulsby went to the hotel,"
she hastily put in; "and Loren Pierce was after her to come and stay at
his house, and I ventured to tell her that I thought we could make her
more comfortable here." She accompanied this by so daring a grimace
and nod that her husband woke up to the fact that a point in Conference
politics was involved.

He squeezed a doubtful smile upon his features. "We shall both do our
best," he said. It was not easy, but he forced increasing amiability
into his glance and tone. "Is Brother Soulsby here, too?" he asked.

The debt-raiser shook her head--again the prompt, decisive movement, so
like a busy man of affairs. "No," she answered. "He's doing supply
down on the Hudson this week, but he'll be here in time for the Sunday
morning love-feast. I always like to come on ahead, and see how the land
lies. Well, good-night! Your head will be all right in the morning."

Precisely what she meant by this assurance, Theron did not attempt to
guess. He received her adieu, noted the masterful manner in which
she kissed his wife, and watched her pass out into the hall, with the
feeling uppermost that this was a person who decidedly knew her way
about. Much as he was prepared to dislike her, and much as he detested
the vulgar methods her profession typified, he could not deny that she
seemed a very capable sort of woman.

This mental concession did not prevent his fixing upon Alice, when she
returned to the room, a glance of obvious disapproval.

"Theron," she broke forth, to anticipate his reproach, "I did it for the
best. The Pierces would have got her if I hadn't cut in. I thought it
would help to have her on our side. And, besides, I like her. She's the
first sister I've seen since we've been in this hole that's had a kind
word for me--or--or sympathized with me! And--and--if you're going to be
offended--I shall cry!"

There were real tears on her lashes, ready to make good the threat.
"Oh, I guess I wouldn't," said Theron, with an approach to his old,
half-playful m