eparture that very day,
appealed to him as an added reason for devoting his entire attention to
her.

"You mustn't forget that famous talking-to you threatened me with--that
'regular hoeing-over,' you know," he reminded her, when he found
himself alone with her after breakfast. He smiled as he spoke, in frank
enjoyment of the prospect.

Sister Soulsby nodded, and aided with a roll of her eyes the effect of
mock-menace in her uplifted forefinger. "Oh, never fear," she cried.
"You'll catch it hot and strong. But that'll keep till afternoon.
Tell me, do you feel strong enough to go in next door and attend the
trustees' meeting this forenoon? It's rather important that you should
be there, if you can spur yourself up to it. By the way, you haven't
asked what happened at the Quarterly Conference yesterday."

Theron sighed, and made a little grimace of repugnance. "If you knew how
little I cared!" he said. "I did hope you'd forget all about mentioning
that--and everything else connected with--the next door. You talk so
much more interestingly about other things."

"Here's gratitude for you!" exclaimed Sister Soulsby, with a gay
simulation of despair. "Why, man alive, do you know what I've done for
you? I got around on the Presiding Elder's blind side, I captured old
Pierce, I wound Winch right around my little finger, I worked two or
three of the class-leaders--all on your account. The result was you
went through as if you'd had your ears pinned back, and been greased all
over. You've got an extra hundred dollars added to your salary; do you
hear? On the sixth question of the order of business the Elder ruled
that the recommendation of the last conference's estimating committee
could be revised (between ourselves he was wrong, but that doesn't
matter), and so you're in clover. And very friendly things were said
about you, too."

"It was very kind of you," said Theron. "I am really extremely grateful
to you." He shook her by the hand to make up for what he realized to be
a lack of fervor in his tones.

"Well, then," Sister Soulsby replied, "you pull yourself together, and
take your place as chairman of the trustees' meeting, and see to it
that, whatever comes up, you side with old Pierce and Winch."

"Oh, THEY'RE my friends now, are they?" asked Theron, with a faint play
of irony about his lips.

"Yes, that's your ticket this election," she answered briskly, "and mind
you vote it straight. Don't bother about reasons