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.