In the meantime, the shocked and horrified twins in the closet of their own room, were clutching each other with passionate intensity. Little nervous chills set them aquiver, their hands were cold, their faces throbbing hot. When their sisters had gone down-stairs, they stared at each other in agony. "They--they wo-won't p-p-put us out of the ch-ch-church," gasped Carol. "They will," stammered Lark. "You know what Prudence is! She'd put the whole church out if she thought it would do us any good." "Pa-p-pa'll--papa'll--" began Carol, her teeth chattering. "They'll do it before he gets back." Then with sudden reproach she cried, "Oh, Carol, I told you it was wicked to joke about religion." This unexpected reproach on the part of her twin brought Carol back to earth. "Christian Science isn't religion," she declared. "It's not even good sense, as far's I can make out. I didn't read a word of it, did you?--I--I just thought it would be such a good joke on Prudence--with father out of town." The good joke was anything but funny now. "They can't make us be Scientists if we don't want to," protested Lark. "They can't. Why, I wouldn't be anything but a Methodist for anything on earth. I'd die first." "You can't die if you're a Scientist--anyhow, you oughtn't to. Millie Mains told me--" "It's a punishment on us for even looking at the book--good Methodists like we are. I'll burn it. That's what I'll do." "You'll have to pay for it at the library if you do," cautioned frugal Carol. "Well, we'll just go and tell Prudence it was a joke,--Prudence is always reasonable. She won't--" "She'll punish us, and--it'll be such a joke on us, Larkie. Even Connie'll laugh." They squirmed together, wretchedly, at that. "We'll tell them we have decided it is false." "They said we'd probably do that for their sakes." "It--it was a good joke while it lasted," said Carol, with a very faint shadow of a smile. "Don't you remember how Prudence gasped? She kept her mouth open for five minutes!" "It's still a joke," added Lark gloomily, "but it's on us." "They can't put us out of the church!" "I don't know. You know we Methodists are pretty set! Like as not they'll say we'd be a bad influence among the members." "Twins!" The call outside their door sounded like the trump of doom to the conscience-smitten twins, and they clutched each other, startled, crying out. Then, sheepishly, they stepped out of the closet to find Fairy regarding them quizzically from the doorway. She repressed a smile with difficulty, as she said quietly: "I was just talking to Mrs. Mains over the phone. She's going to a Christian Science lecture to-night, and she said she wished I wasn't a minister's daughter and she'd ask me to go along. I told her I didn't care to, but said you twins would enjoy it. She'll be here in the car for you at seven forty-five." "I won't go," cried Carol. "I won't go near their old church."