Fairy's expression. She thinks brilliant
and clever people are just adorable. It is only I who think them
horrible." Even Prudence could see that this did not help matters.
"I--I do not mean that," she stammered. "I am sure you are very nice
indeed, and we are going to be good friends, aren't we? But I am such
a dunce myself that I am afraid of real clever people. They are so
superior. And so uninteresting, and--oh, I do not mean that either."
Then Prudence laughed at her predicament. "I may as well give it up.
What I really mean is that you are so nice and friendly and
interesting, that I can hardly believe you are so clever. You are the
nicest smart person I ever saw,--except my own family, I mean." She
smiled up at him deliciously. "Does that make it square?"

"More than square," he said. "You are too complimentary. But the only
thing that really counts to-day is whether we are going to be real good
friends, as you suggested. We are, aren't we? The very best and
closest of friends?"

"Yes," agreed Prudence, dimpling. "I like men to be my friends,--nice
men, I mean. But it isn't always safe. So many start out to be good
friends, and then want to be silly. So a girl has to be very careful.
But it's perfectly safe with you, and so we can be the very best of
friends. I won't need to be watchful for bad symptoms."

"Do you think me so unmanly that I couldn't fall in love?" he asked,
and his voice was curious, as though she had hurt him.

"Oh, of course, you'll fall in love," laughed Prudence. "All nice men
do.--But not with me,--that was what I meant I couldn't imagine a buggy
professor--oh, I beg your pardon! But the twins are so silly and
disrespectful, and they thought it was such a joke that I should even
look at a professor of biology that they began calling you the buggy
professor. But they do not mean any harm by it, not the least in the
world. They're such nice sweet girls, but--young, you know. Are your
feelings hurt?" she asked anxiously.

"Not a bit! I think the twins and I will be tremendously good friends.
I'm quite willing to be known as the buggy professor. But you were
trying to explain why I couldn't fall in love with you. I suppose you
mean that you do not want me to."

"Oh, not that at all," she hastened to assure him. Then she stopped.
"Yes," she said honestly, "that is true, too. But that isn't what I
was trying to say. I was just saying that no one realizes any mo