married at all.'

"At breakfast the next morning father said, 'I believe Kirke Connor is
headed straight, for good and all. Now if some nice girl could just
marry him he would be safe enough.'

"Aunt Grace looked at him warningly. 'But of course no nice girl could
do it, yet,' she interposed quickly. 'It wouldn't be safe. He can't
marry until he is sure of himself.'

"'Oh, I don't know,' I said thoughtfully. 'Provided the girl were
clever as well as nice, she could handle Kirke easily. Now I may not
be the nicest girl in the world, but no one can deny that I am clever.'

"Father swallowed helplessly. Then he rallied. 'By the way, Connie,
won't you come down to Burlington with me for a couple of days? I have
a lot of work to do there, and we can have a nice little honeymoon all
by ourselves. What do you say?'

"'Oh, thank you, father, that is lovely. Let's go on the noon train,
shall we? I can be ready.'

"'All right, just fine.' He flashed a triumphant glance at Aunt Grace
and she dimpled her approval.

"'Now don't tell any one we are going, father,' I cautioned him. 'I
want to surprise Kirke Connor. He is going to Burlington on that train
himself, and it will be such a joke on him to find us there ready to be
entertained. He is to be there several days, so he can amuse me while
you are busy. Isn't it lovely? He really needs a little boosting now,