ates study. He's an amusing soul, I must
say. He's going to attend here a couple of years, and then study
pharmacy. His father is a druggist in Ottumwa, and quite well off.
The only reason Babbie came here instead of going to a big college in
the East is because his father is a trustee. Trustees are in honor
bound to send their offspring to the college they trustee,--just as
ministers are obliged to trade with the members when possible."

"Even if they short-weight and long-charge you," put in Carol.

"Carol!" exclaimed Prudence reprovingly. "Well, we'll serve oyster
stew then. Will you eat in the dining-room?"

"No, we'll eat on the little table in the front room,--informally, you
know. You must get it ready, and arrange it nicely on the big tray.
Then you must come to the door and say, 'Wouldn't you like a little
oyster stew?' Say it carelessly, as if we always have something to eat
before going to bed. And I'll say, 'Oh, yes, Prudence, bring it right
in.' Then you bring it in, and we'll all eat together.--That's the way
to do it! Babbie's had dates with the very swellest girls in school,
and he knows about such things. We must do it up brown!"

"Swell!" mocked Lark. "Do it up brown! Oh, you'll be a record-breaker
of a college professor all right. I'm sure this young Babler is just
the type of man to interest the modern college professor! Swell! Do
it up brown!"

"Ouch!" grinned Carol.

"Now, will you twins run down-town for the oysters?" asked Prudence
briskly.

"Who? Us?" demanded Lark, indignantly and ungrammatically. "Do you
think we can carry home oysters for the--the--personal consumption of
this Babbling young prince? Not so! Let Fairy go after the oysters!
She can carry them home tenderly and appreciatively. Carol and I
can't! We don't grasp the beauty of that man's nature."

"Oh, yes, twinnies, I think you'll go, all right. Hurry now, for you
must be back in time to help me get supper. Fairy'll have to
straighten the front room, and we won't have time. Run along, and be
quick."

For a few seconds the twins gazed at each other studiously. Neither
spoke. Without a word, they went up-stairs to prepare for their errand.

They whispered softly going through the upper hall.

"We'd better make a list," said Carol softly.

So with heads close together they wrote out several items on a piece of
paper.

"It'll cost quite a lot," objected Carol. "Thirty cents, anyhow. And