"I know, Miss Quigg. We are a hopeless and helpless lot. But we're going
to reform."

"You need to, badly," she said. "But you need some one to reform you.
Look at Mr. Duff there, how vastly improved he is," and she waved her
hand to that gentleman, who was driving away with his wife in their
buckboard.

"He is a perfect dear," sighed Mrs. Duff, as she bowed to the minister.
"And you, too, Stewart," she added, giving his arm a little squeeze,
"you said just the right thing when those horrid people were going to
turn him out."

"Say! Your preacher isn't so bad after all," said her husband. "Wasn't
that a neat one for old Hayes?"

"He rather got you, though, Stewart."

"Yes, he did, by Jove! Not the first time, either, he's done it. But I
must look after that. Say, he's the limit for freshness though. Or is it
freshness? I'm not quite sure."

"Will he stay with us?" said his wife. "I really do hope he will."

"Guess he'll stay all right. He won't give up his job," said her
husband.

But next week proved Mr. Duff a poor prophet, for the minister after
the service informed his people that he had come to the conclusion that
another man might get better results as minister of the congregation; he