"You look like a dream," he said. "The wind a-drifting o'er the lea ne'er blew upon a fairer sight! You shall walk with me." "Oh, father, you can't remember that you're obsolete," laughed Fairy. "The twins have attained to the dignity of boys, and aren't satisfied with the fond but sober arm of father any more. Our little twins have dates to-night, as usual nowadays." "Aunt Grace," he said solemnly, "it's a wretched business, having a parsonage full of daughters. Just as soon as they reach the age of beauty, grace and charm, they turn their backs on their fathers and smile on fairer lads." "You've got me, father," said Connie consolingly. "And me,--when Babbie's in Chicago," added Fairy. "Yes, that's some help. Connie, be an old maid. Do! I implore you." "Oh, Connie's got a beau already," said Carol. "It's the fat Allen boy. They don't have dates yet, but they've got an awful case on. He's going to make their living by traveling with a show. You'll have to put up with auntie--she's beyond the beauing stage!" "Suits me," he said contentedly, "I am getting more than my deserts. Come on, Grace, we'll start." "So will we, Connie," said Fairy. But the boys came, both together, and the family group set out together. Carol and Hartley--one of her high-school admirers--led off by running a race down the parsonage walk. And Lark, old, worn and grave, brought up the rear with Jim Forrest. Jim was a favorite attendant of the twins. He had been graduated from high school the year previous, and was finishing off at the agricultural college in Ames. But Ames was not far from home, and he was still frequently on hand to squire the twins when squires were in demand. He was curiously generous and impartial in his attentions,--it was this which so endeared him to the twins. He made his dates by telephone, invariably. And the conversations might almost have been decreed by law. "May I speak to one of the twins?" The nearest twin was summoned, and then he asked: "Have you twins got dates for the ball game?"--or the party, or the concert. And the twin at the telephone would say, "Yes, we both have--hard luck, Jim." Or, "I have, but Carol hasn't." Sometimes it was, "No, we haven't, but we're just crazy to go." And in reply to the first Jim always answered, "That's a shame,--why didn't you remember me and hold off?" And to the second, "Well, ask her if I can come around for her." And to the third, "Good, let's all go together and have a celebration." For this broad-minded devotion the twins gave him a deep-seated gratitude and affection and he always stood high in their favor. On this occasion Carol had answered the telephone, and in reply to his query she answered crossly, "Oh, Jim, you stupid thing, why didn't you phone yesterday? I would so much rather go with you than--But never mind. I have a date, but Lark hasn't. And you just called in time, too, for Harvey Lane told Hartley he was going to ask for a date."