"Why—not—exactly."
"But she thinks it was from the whole family. She thanked me for it."
"I—I made her think that," Carol explained. "I want her to think we're the nicest parsonage bunch they've ever had in Mount Mark. Besides, it really was from the family. Aunt Grace loaned me the money and I'll have to borrow it from you to pay her. And Lark did my dusting so I could go on the errand, though she did not know what it was. And I—er—accidentally took one of Connie's ribbons to tie it with. Isn't that a family gift?"
"Mr. Scott tells me you are the prime mover in the Junior League now," he continued.
"Well, goodness knows our Junior League needs a mover of some sort."
"And Mrs. Davies says you are a whole Mercy and Help Department all by yourself."
"What I can't understand," said Carol mournfully, "is why folks don't keep their mouths shut. I know that sounds very inelegant, but it expresses my idea perfectly. Can't I have a good time in my own way without the whole church pedaling me from door to door?"
The twinkle in her father's eyes deepened. "What do you call it, Carol, 'sowing seeds of kindness'?"
"I should say not," came the emphatic retort. "I call it sowing seeds of fun. It's a circus to go around and gloat over folks when they are sick or sorry, or—"
"But they tell me you don't gloat. Mrs. Marling says you cried with Jeanie half a day when her dog died."