The Yale expositor., 1917-12-27
CHAPTER v.
Substitution.

The twins came in at dinner-time
wrapped in unwonted silence. Lark's
face was darkened by an anxious
shadow, while Carol wore an express
sion of heroic determination.
whats up?" Connie asked, when
the rest of the family dismissed the
matter with amused glances.
Lark sighed and looked at Carol,
seeming to seek courage from the Spar
tan countenance.
Carol squared her shoulders.
swell, go on" Connie urged. "DOn't
be silly. You know you're crazy to tell
us about it, you only want to be
coaXed."
Lark sighed again, and gazed appeal
ingly at her stOut-hearted twin. Carol
never could resist the appeal Of those
pleading eyes.
"Larkie promised to speak a piece
Mt the Sunday-school concert two
weeks from tomorrow" she vouch-
safed. as u~nconcernedly as possible.
"Mercy !" CALCULATED Connie, with an
establishment that was not altogether
complimentary.
Careful, Larkie," cautioned Fairy.
you'll disgrace the parsonage If you
don't watch out"
Nonsense" declared their father,
lark can speak as well as anybody if
she just keeps a good grip on herself
and doesn't get stage fright"
Aunt Grace smiled gently.
Connie frowned. "It's a risky bust
ness" she said. clark can't speak any
more than q rabbit, and"
81 know it," was the humble admis-
sion.
Don't be q goose, Con-" interrupted
Carol. "Of course Lark can speak a
piece. She must learn it, learn 1t,
learn it, so she can rattle it off back
wards with her eyes shut. That's the
whole secret. OF course she can
speak"
"How did it happenT inquired
Fairy.
~ don't know" Lark said sorrow
fully. Nothing was yer farther from
my thoughts, 1 assure you. The first
thing 1 knew, Mrs. Curtiss was thank
ing me for my promise, and Carol was
marching me off like grim DEATH"
Carol smiled, relieved now that the
family commentary was over. sit was
very natural. Mrs. Curtiss begged her
to do it, and Lark refused. That al
ways happens, every time the Sunday
school gives an entertainment. But
Mrs. Curtlss went on to say how badly
the Sunday school needs the money,
and how big a drawing card 1t would
be for both of us twins to be on the
program, one right after the other, and
how we'll it would look for the par
sonage, and 1t never occurred to me to
warn Lark, for l never dreamed of her
doing It."
81 thought It wouldn't hurt me to try
1t once" Lark volunteered in her own
defense.
Aunt Grace nodded, with a smile OF
interested approval.
"I'm proud of you, Lark, quite proud
of you," her father said warmly. "1ts
a big thing for you to make such
plunge-just fine"
I'm proud of you now, too" Connie
said darkly. 1.-THE question is, will We
be proud of you after the concerto"
Lark sighed dolorously.
ooh, pooh 70 encouraged Carol. "Any
body can speak a silly little old piece
like that. And ii will look so nice tC
have our names right together on thu
program. It'll bring out all the higl
school folks, sure"
eyes, they'll come to hear Lark, al
right" Fairy smiled. "But she'll make
It g of course. And it will give Caro-
q chance to show her cleverness b!
telling her how to do It."
SO as soon as supper was over, Caro-
said decidedly. "Now, Connie. you'll
have to help me with the dishes thu
next two weeks, for Lark's got to prac
tice on that piece. Lark, you mus
read Il over, very thoughtfully first T.
get the meaning. Then just read 1
and read IL and read 1t, a dozen times
q hundred times, over and over ant
over. And pretty DOT you'll know It.
"TIl bet / don't" was the discourag
ing retort, as Lark, with pronOunce'
distaste, took the slip Of paper and sa
down In the corner to read the bloom
ing thing" as she muttered GROSSLY t
herself.
Connie and Carol did up the dishe,
In dreadfpi silence, and then Carol re
turned 20 the charge. "How man!
times Old you read 1T"
Fourteen and a half" vas the pa
tIent answer. Its a silly thing, Carol
There's no sense to II. The wind wen
drifting Ger the lea"