"I'm afraid not," was the reply. "The Ladies' Aid will meet here on
that day, and so I could not possibly leave. Why don't you go, Daniel?
You are fond of good singing, and it is so seldom that you get away
from the parish."

"It is utterly out of the question, Martha," the clergyman sadly
returned. "I have to bury old Mrs. Fisk at Stony Creek to-morrow
afternoon."

"Oh, I had forgotten about that, Daniel. Isn't it always the way when
anything of special importance comes to the city? You have never been
able to attend."

"It seems so. But never mind, dear, we are going to take a long
holiday next summer, and that will make up for much we have lost."

"May I go, grandad?" Rod suddenly asked.

"Go where, Rodney? With us next summer?"

"No, but to hear Miss Royanna."

"You!" and the parson straightened himself up. "Why, I didn't know
that you would care to go."

"But I do, grandad. Phil Dexter is going with his father to the city
to-morrow, and why couldn't I go along with them? Phil and I could go
to hear Miss Royanna ourselves if Mr. Dexter doesn't want to go. Oh,
may I?"