father lets you go. Did he see you cry?"

"Certainly not! I wouldn't cry before him. He would say that was
foolish or wicked or something it shouldn't be. But you--you are so
sensible I don't mind if you do see me with my eyes red."

"Ha, ha, that's a compliment. I have been told that I am happy-go-lucky
and sort of a cheerful idiot, but no person ever told me that I'm
sensible. Well, don't you forget me when you get to be that prima
donna."

"I won't. You and Mother Bab rub me the right way."

"But won't she be glad when I tell her," said David. "I came down to see
if you had decided about it, and I find it all arranged."

"And me in tears," added Phoebe, her natural poise and good humor again
restored. "Tell Mother Bab I am coming up soon to tell her about it."

So, in happier mood, she walked beside David, down the green lane to the
road, across the road to her own gate.

"So you come once!" Aunt Maria greeted her.

"Oh, I forgot your pennyroyal! I'll go get it."

"Never mind. You stayed so long I went over to the field near the barn
and got some. But you look like you've been cryin', Phoebe. Did you and
Phares have a fall-out?"

"No."

"You and David, then?"

"No--please don't ask me--it's nothing."

"Well, there ain't no man in shoe leather worth cryin' about, I can tell
you that. They just laugh at your cryin'."

Phoebe smiled at her aunt's philosophy and resolved to forget the
discouraging words of the preacher. She would be happy in spite of
him--the future held bright hours for her!

CHAPTER XIII

THE SCARLET TANAGER

THE days that followed were busy days at the gray farmhouse. Phoebe was
soon deep in the preparations for her stay in the city. Her meagre
wardrobe required replenishment; she wanted to go to Philadelphia with
an outfit of which Miss Lee would not be ashamed. Much to her aunt's
surprise the girl selected one-piece dresses of blue serge with sheer
white collars for every-day wear in cold weather; a few white linens for
warm days; and these, with her blue serge suit, her simple white
graduation dress, and a plain dark silk dress, were the main articles of
her outfit. Aunt Maria expressed her relief and wonder at the girl's
choice--"Well, it wonders me that you don't want a lot of ugly fancy
things to go to Phildelphy. Those dresses all made in one are sensible
once. I guess the style makers tried all the outlandish styles they
could think of and had to make a nice styl