her two children were
developing opinions and character. How splendid of them to take this
stand! And who was Jane Bristol? Assuredly she must be looked up and
helped if that was the way the town felt about her, poor child!

"Well," said Bryan in a business-like tone, "I'm secretary. Joe, you
call that prayer committee together Thursday night at your house at
half-past seven, and I'll send a notice to each one. You make Jane
Bristol chairman, and I'll be on the committee; and I'll go after her
and take her home. Now, who else are you going to have on it?"

The president assented readily. He was one not used to taking the
initiative, but he eagerly did as he was told when a good idea
presented itself.

"We want you on it," he said, nodding to Allison and then, looking
shyly at Leslie, added, "And you?"

"Oh!" said Leslie, flushing in fright, "what would we have to do? I
never prayed before anybody in my life. I'm not sure I even know how
to pray, only just to say 'Thank you' to God sometimes. I think you
could find somebody better."

"We've got to have you this time," said the president, shaking his
head. "You needn't pray if you don't want to, but you must come and
help us through."

"But I couldn't go and be a--a sort of slacker!" said Leslie, her
cheeks quite beautifully red.

"That's all right! You come!" said Bryan, looking solemnly at her.

When the visitors finally took themselves away, Allison, polite to the
last, closed the door with a courteous "Good-night," and then stood
frowning at the fire.

Julia Cloud came softly into the room, and went and stood beside him
with loving question in her eyes. He met her gaze with a new kind of
hardness.

"Now, you see what you let me in for, Cloudy, when you made me go to
that little old dull Christian Endeavor! But I won't do it! That's all
there is to it. You needn't think I'm going to. The idea! Why, what
did we come here to college for? To run an asylum for sick Sunday
schools, I'd like to know? As if I had time to monkey with their
little old society! It's rank nonsense, anyhow! What good do they
think they can do, a couple of sissies, and two or three kid vamps,
setting up to lisp religion? It's ridiculous!"

He was working himself up into a fine frenzy. Julia Cloud stood and
watched him, an amused smile growing on her sweet lips. He caught the
amusement, and fired up at it.

"What are you looking like that at me for, Cloudy? You know it is. You
know