I suppose you've no
idea how it feels, and I can't explain it. But sometimes I think maybe
I ought to go off and die, so the whole family can shine and sparkle
together. As it is, there's just a dull glow from my corner, quite
pale and ugly compared with the brilliant gleams the others are sending
out."

Said Professor Rayburn, "Ah, Prudence, the faint, sweet mellow glows
are always beautiful. Not sparkling, perhaps, not brilliant! But
comforting, and cheering, and--always to be trusted. It's just these
little corner-glows, like yours, that make life worth living."

This was rather deep for Prudence, but she felt instinctively that he
was complimenting her. She thanked him sweetly, and said, "And after
all, I do not really mind being the stupid one. I think it's rather
fun, for then I can just live along comfortably, and people do not
expect much of me. It would wear me all out to be as clever as Fairy,
or as witty as Carol, or as studious as Lark. But I am most
tremendously proud of them, I assure you."

If Professor Rayburn had continued along this interesting and fruitful
line of conversation, all would have been well.

"But it came just like a clap of thunder in the sunshine," said
Prudence to Fairy dramatically, as they sat in their room talking
things over that night. "We were having a perfectly grand time, and I
was just thinking he was as nice and interesting as if he didn't know
one thing to his name, when--Crash! That's how it happened."

Fairy wiped her eyes, and lay back weakly on the bed. "Go on," she
urged. "What happened?"

"He stopped right in the middle of a sentence about me, something real
nice, too, that I was awfully interested in, and said, 'Look, Miss
Starr!' Then he got down on his knees and began cautiously scraping
away the sticks and leaves. Then he fished out the most horrible,
woolly, many-legged little animal I ever saw in my life. He said it
was a giminythoraticus billyancibus, and he was as tickled over it as
though he had just picked up a million-dollar diamond. And what do you
suppose the weird creature did with it? He wrapped it in a couple of
leaves, and put his handkerchief around it and put it in his
pocket!--Do you remember when we were eating by the creek, and I got
jam on my fingers? He offered me his handkerchief to wipe it off? Do
you remember how I shoved him away, and shuddered? I saw you look
reprovingly at me! That's why! Do you suppose I coul