"Now, Dan," expostulated his anxious little wife. "Don't you pay any
attention to him, Mrs. Duke, he's always talking."

"I know it," said Carol appreciatively. "I never pay attention."

"You need a vacation, Mr. Duke," broke in a voice impulsively.

"I know it," assented David. "We'll take one in the spring,--and you
can help pay the expenses."

"You'd better take it now," suggested Mrs. Baldwin. "The church can
get along without you, you know."

But the laugh that went up was not genuine. Many of them, in their
devotion to David, wondered if the church really could get along
without him.

David gaily waved aside the enormous plate of refreshments that was
passed to him. "I had my dinner, you know," he explained. "Carol
isn't neglecting me."

"He had it, but he didn't eat it,--and it was fried chicken," said
Carol sadly.

A few minutes later they were at home again, and before Carol had
finished the solemn task of rubbing cold cream into her pretty skin,
David was sleeping heavily, his face flushed, his hands twitching
nervously at times.

Carol stood above him, gazing adoringly down upon him for a while.