CHAPTER VII
THE FIRST STEP
It was Sunday night in mid-winter. After church, David remained for atrustees' meeting, and Carol walked home with some of the younger onesof the congregation. When they asked if she wished them to wait withher for David she shook her head, smiling gratefully but with weariness.
"No, thank you. I am going right straight to bed. I am tired."
Into the little manse she crept, sinking into the first easy chair thatpresented itself. With slow listless fingers she removed her wraps,dropping them on the floor beside her,--laboriously unbuttoned andremoved her shoes, and in the same lifeless manner loosened her dressand took the pins from her hair. Then, holding her garments about her,she went in search of night dress, slippers and negligee. A fewseconds later she returned and curled herself up with some cushions onthe floor before the fireplace.
"Ought to make some coffee,--David's so hungry afterchurch,--too--dead--tired--Ummmmm." Her voice trailed off into amurmur and she closed her eyes.
David found her so, soundly sleeping, her hair curling about her face.He knelt down and kissed her. She opened one eye.
"Coffee?" she queried automatically.
"I should say not. Go to bed." He sprawled full length on the floor,his head against her arm.
"Worn out, aren't you, David?"
"Well, I'm ready for bed; Such a day! Did you have time for Mrs.Garder before Endeavor?"
"Yes, she knew me too. I am glad I went. She had been waiting for me.They say it is only a few days now. The way of a minister's wife ishard sometimes. She wanted me to sing _Lead Kindly Light_, and was sopuzzled and confused when I insisted I couldn't sing. She thoughtministers' wives always sang. I know she is disappointed in me now.If the Lord foreknew that I was going to marry a minister, why didn'tHe foreordain that I should sing?"
David laughed, but attempted no explanation.
"Did you get along all right at the Old Ladies' Home?"
"Oh, fine. The girls sang beautifully, and I read the Bible lessonwithout mispronouncing a single word. Did the boys miss me at theHollow?"
"Yes, they said they needed you worse than the old ladies. Maybe theywere right. We must save your Sunday afternoons for them after this.They do need you."
"Did you have supper with the Baldwins?"
"Yes. You stayed with Mrs. Norris, didn't you?"
"Yes. Um, I am sleepy."
David coughed slightly.
"Get up off this floor, David Duke," scolded Carol. "Don't you knowthat floors are always drafty? I am surprised at you. I wish Prudencewas here to make you soak your feet in hot water and drink pepperminttea."
"You work too hard, Carol. You are busy every minute."
"Yes. I have to be, to keep in hailing distance of you. You usuallydo about three things at once."
"It's been a good year, Carol. You've enjoyed it, spite of everything,haven't you?"
"It's been the most wonderful year one could dream of. Even Connie'sliterary imagination could not conjure up a sweeter one."
"Always something to do, something to think of, some one tosee,--always on the alert, to-day crowded full, to-morrow to lookforward to."
"And best of all, David, always with you, working with you, taking careof you,--always-- Oh, I am tired, but it is not so bad being tired outwhen you've done your level best."
"Carol, it is fine, labor is, it is life. I can't imagine an existencewithout it. Going to bed, worn out with the day, rising in the morningready to plunge in over one's ears. It is the only real life there is.How do people endure a drifting through the days, with never anythingto do and never worn enough to sleep?"
"I don't know," said Carol promptly. "They aren't alive, that's sure.But let's go to bed. David, please get off that floor and stopcoughing."
David obediently got up, lightly dusting his trousers as he did so.Then he lifted his arms high and breathed deeply. "Anyhow it is betterto be tired than lazy, isn't it?"