yhow, though they wouldn't admit it! And riding a cow! Oh,
Larkie, if you love me, go down-stairs and get me the carbolic acid, so I
can die and be out of disgrace."

This, however, Lark stoutly refused to do, and in a little while Carol
felt much better. But she talked it over with Prudence very seriously.

"I hope you understand, Prudence, that I shall never have anything more
to do with Blinkie! She can die of starvation for all I care. I'll
never take her to and from the pasture again. I couldn't do it! Such
rank ingratitude as that cow displayed was never equaled, I am certain."

"I suppose you'll quit using milk and cream, too," suggested Prudence.

"Oh, well," said Carol more tolerantly, "I don't want to be too hard on
Blinkie, for after all it was partly my own fault. So I won't go that
far. But I must draw the line somewhere! Hereafter, Blinkie and I meet
as strangers!"

CHAPTER III

THE LADIES' AID

"It's perfectly disgusting, I admit, father," said Prudence sweetly,
"but you know yourself that it very seldom happens. And I am sure the
kitchen is perfectly clean, and the soup is very nice indeed,--if it is
canned soup! Twins, this is four slices of bread apiece for you! You
see, father, I really feel that this is a crisis in the life of the
parsonage----"

"How long does a parsonage usually live?" demanded Carol.

"It wouldn't live long if the ministers had many twins," said Fairy
quickly.

"Ouch!" grinned Connie, plagiarizing, for that expressive word belonged
exclusively to the twins, and it was double impertinence to apply it to
one of its very possessors.

"And you understand, don't you, father, that if everything does not go
just exactly right, I shall feel I am disgraced for life? I know the
Ladies disapprove of me, and look on me with suspicion. I know they
think it wicked and ridiculous to leave the raising of four bright
spirits in the unworthy hands of a girl like me. I know they will all
sniff and smile and--Of course, twins, they have a perfect right to
feel, and act, so. I am not complaining. But I want to show them for
once in their lives that the parsonage runs smoothly and sweetly. If
you would just stay at home with us, father, it would be a big help.
You are such a tower of strength."

"But unfortunately I can not. People do not get married every day in
the week, and when they are all ready for it they do not allow even
Ladies' Aids to stand in their w