home and make the soup, and you can finish the stocking.'

"Toby was delighted. 'Thank you, my dear Mrs. Clover-leaf!' he cried,
and offered her his arm gallantly, and they set off together to the
minister's.

"The widow took such enormous strides that Toby had to run to keep up
with her. She was much taller than he, and her bonnet was very large,
and almost hid her face. Toby could hardly have seen her, if he had
had his lantern; still he could not help wishing that one of them had
one, but the widow said her oil was out, so there was no help for it.

"Once or twice when she turned her head toward him, Toby thought her
eyes looked about twice as large and bright as phosphorescent buttons,
and he felt a little startled, but he told himself that it was only
his imagination, of course.

"When they reached the minister's, there was no light in his house,
either, and it occurred to Toby that it was Fast Day. Once a week,
Pokonoket ministers sit in total darkness all day, and eat nothing.

"When Toby called, the minister poked his head out of the study
window, and asked what he wanted.

"Toby told him, and he and the widow stood in front of the study
window, and were married in the dark, and Toby gave a phosphorescent
button for the fee.

"The widow took longer steps than ever on the way home, and Toby ran
till he was all out of breath; she fairly lifted him off his feet