“Yes, thank you, I am coming.  In fact, I was only waiting for the word from you.  So I shall start on Monday next, C., B. & Q., reaching Denver Tuesday afternoon at 2:30.  Be sure and meet me.

“I nearly lost my job, too.  I went to Mr. Carver and said I wanted a vacation.  He said ‘All right, when and how long?’ I said, ’Beginning next Monday.’  He nodded.  ‘To continue six weeks.’  He nearly died.  He asked what kind of an institution for the feeble-minded I thought this was.  I said I hadn’t solved it yet.  He reminded me that I have already had one week’s vacation, and three days on two different occasions.  He said he hired people to work, not to visit their relatives at his expense.  He said I had one week of vacation coming.  And I interrupted to say I didn’t expect any salary during that time, I just wanted him to hold my position for me.  He said he was astonished I didn’t ask him to discontinue publication during my absence.  Finally he said I might have one week on full pay, and one week without pay, and that was enough for a senator.

“So I went to my machine and wrote out a very literary resignation which I handed to him.  I know the business now, and I have met a lot of publishers, so I was safe in resigning.  I knew I could get another position in three days.  He tore the resignation up, and said he wished I could outgrow my childishness.

“Before luncheon, he said he had a good idea.  We were away behind in clippings for filling and he suggested that I take a big bundle of exchanges with me, and clip while I vacated.  Also I could doubtless find the time to write a thousand or so words a week and send it in, and then I might go on full pay for six weeks.  Figuratively I fell upon his neck and kissed him,—­purely figuratively, for his wife has a most annoying way of dropping in at unexpected hours,—­and I am getting the most charming new clothes made up, so David will think I am prettier than you.  Now don’t withdraw the invitation, for I shall come anyhow.”

Carol considered herself well schooled in the art of emotional restraint, but when she finished reading those blessed words—­which to her ears, so hungry for the voices of home, sounded like an extract from the beatitudes—­she put her head on the back of David’s hand and gulped audibly.  And she admitted that she must certainly have cried, save for the restraining influence of the knowledge that crying made her nose red.

In the meantime, back in Iowa, the Starrs in their separate households, were running riot.  Never was there to be such a wonderful visit for anybody in the world.  Jerry and Prudence bundled up their family, and got into a Harmer Six and drove down to Mount Mark, where they ensconced themselves in the family home and announced their intention of staying until Connie had gone.  As soon as Fairy heard that, she hastened home too, full of the glad tiding that she had found a boy she wanted to adopt at last.  Lark and Jim neglected the farm shamefully, and all the women of the neighborhood were busy making endless little odds and ends of dainty clothing for Carol, who had lived ready-made during the three years of their domicile in the shadowland of sunshine.