"Oh, a little journey. But be quiet now, and give your mother time to think."
"What's a journey?" demanded Elvira, without the least hesitation.
"Oh, going away on the cars."
"Are Matthew and Mark goin'?" asked Elvira, with a long breath, and very big eyes.
"Yes. Well, Mrs. Hansell, what do you say?"
"I don't know."
"I'm goin'; I'm goin'," announced Elvira, capering away.
"Be quiet, child, your mother hasn't decided," said the minister.
"I'm goin'; I'm goin'," Elvira kept on, shouting and dancing away as hard as she could, which presently brought the other two girls up to their mother's chair with a clamor to know what it was all about.
When it was explained, the trouble was so great the minister had more than two minds to flee the scene and let the little widow get out of it as best she might. At last a happy thought struck him.