make his wife dissatisfied with her environment, with her life, with
her very husband. David's kindly heart swelled with unaccustomed fury.

Carol always assured him that she didn't believe the things Mrs.
Waldemar said,--it was interesting, that was all, and curious, and gave
her new things to think about. And minister's families must be broad
enough to make Christian allowance for all.

But, curiously enough, she grew genuinely fond of Mrs. Waldemar. And
Mrs. Waldemar, in gratitude for the girlish affection of the little
manse lady, left David alone. But one day she took Carol's dimpled
chin in her hand, and turned the face up that she might look directly
into the young blue eyes.

"Carol," she said, smiling, "you are a girlie, girlie wife, with
dimples and curls and all the baby tricks, but you're a pretty clever
little lady at that. You were not going to let your darling old David
get into trouble, were you? And quite right, my dear, quite right.
And between you and me, I like you far, far better than your husband."
She smiled the crooked smile and pinched Carol's crimson cheek. "The
only way to keep hubby out of danger is to tackle it yourself, isn't
it? Oh, don't blush,--I like you all the better for your little trick."




CHAPTER V

A MINISTER'S SON