it? It may be called upon to officiate in
other crises for me, so it behooves me to husband it well."

Then he dropped heavily on the davenport before the fireplace, with
Carol crouching on a cushion beside him, stroking his hand.

"Let's not go to the reception," she said. "We've congratulated them a
dozen times already."

"Oh, we've got to go," he answered. "They would be disappointed.
We'll only stay a few minutes. Just as soon as I rest--I am played out
to-night--it is only a step."

They slipped among the guests at the reception quietly and
unobtrusively, but were instantly surrounded.

"A good service, David," said Mr. Daniels, eying him keenly. "You make
such a pretty job of it I'd like to try it over myself."

"Now, Dan," expostulated his anxious little wife. "Don't you pay any
attention to him, Mrs. Duke, he's always talking."

"I know it," said Carol appreciatively. "I never pay attention."

"You need a vacation, Mr. Duke," broke in a voice impulsively.

"I know it," assented David. "We'll take one in the spring,--and you
can help pay the expenses."

"You'd better take it now," suggested Mrs. Baldwin. "The church can
get along without you, you know."

But the laugh that went up was not genuine. Many of them, in their
devotion to David, wondered if the church really could get along
without him.

David gaily waved aside the enormous plate of refreshments that was
passed to him. "I had my dinner, you know," he explained. "Carol
isn't neglecting me."

"He had it, but he didn't eat it,--and it was fried chicken," said
Carol sadly.

A few minutes later they were at home again, and before Carol had
finished the solemn task of rubbing cold cream into her pretty skin,
David was sleeping heavily, his face flushed, his hands twitching
nervously at times.

Carol stood above him, gazing adoringly down upon him for a while.
Then shutting her eyes, she said fervently:

"Oh, God, do make David less like an angel, and more like other men."

Early the next morning she was up and had steaming hot coffee ready for
David almost before his eyes were open.

"To crowd out that mean little cough that spoils your breakfast," she
said. "I shall keep you in bed to-day."

All morning David lounged around the house, hugging the fireplace, and
complained of feeling cold though it was a warm bright day late in
April, and although the fire was blazing. In the afternoon he took off
his jacket and loosened