elephone rang.

"There's professor!" cried Fairy. "You tell him you are just delighted
to go, and that you are so interested in bugs!"

With a flushed face, Prudence took down the receiver. "Hello," she
said, "this is the parsonage."

And then, a second later, she said, "Yes, this is Prudence."

After that she stood silent for some little time, with Fairy crouched
beside her, trying to hear.

Then spoke Prudence. "Yes, Fairy has been telling me. And it's very
kind of you, indeed, and I know I would enjoy it. But as I was telling
Fairy, I don't know a thing about bugs, and I don't like them anyhow,
so I'm afraid you would find me rather stupid."

Fairy was striving to get a hand over her sister's lips to stem the
words, but Prudence eluded her. They were both somewhat astounded at
the great peal of laughter which came over the telephone.

"Good! That's just what I was hoping for! You couldn't have said
anything that would give me greater pleasure. Then shall I come around
with Babler, for you and your sister, about one o'clock?--Oh, that is
very kind of you, Miss Starr. Good-by! Don't cultivate an interest in
bugs between now and to-morrow, for my sake!"

The girls looked at each other doubtfully when the receiver was once
more on its hook.

"I'm afraid he's laughing at me," said Prudence questioningly.

"I should hope so," cried Fairy. "What in the world did you say that
for? Couldn't you have pretended to be interested? Professor likes
women to be dignified and intellectual and deep, and----"

"Then why on earth did he ask me to go?" demanded Prudence. "Any one
could tell to look at me that I'm not dignified and intellectual and
deep, and----"

"And I know he admired you, for he was so eager when he asked about
you. Think how grand it would be to speak of 'my sister, Mrs.
Professor Rayburn,' and----"

"Don't be silly, Fairy. If I was going to marry anybody, which I am
not, I hope you do not think for one minute that I'd marry a buggist!
Gracious! Goodness! I've a notion not to go a step! I'll call him up
and----"

But Fairy only laughed.

And after all, Prudence looked forward to the little outing in the
glorious October woods with eager anticipation. It was seldom indeed
that she indulged in merry-making away from the parsonage. Yet she was
fond of gaiety. Long before one o'clock on that eventful day, she was
ready. And her face was so bright, and her eyes so starry, that pla