Then she appreciated it! She dropped her spoon with a great clatter,
and jumped up from the table. "Mercy!" she shrieked. "It is poisoned!"

Babbie leaned back in his chair and laughed until his eyes were wet.
Prudence's eyes were wet, too, but not from laughter! What would
etiquette think of her, after this?

"What did you do to this soup, Prudence?" demanded Fairy.

"I made it,--nothing else," faltered poor Prudence, quite crushed by
this blow. And oysters forty cents a pint!

"It's pepper, I think," gasped Babbie. "My insides bear startling
testimony to the presence of pepper."

And he roared again, while Prudence began a critical examination of the
oysters. She found them literally stuffed with pepper, there was no
doubt of it. The twins had done deadly work! Their patience, at
least, was commendable,--it seemed that not one oyster had escaped
their attention. The entire pint had been ruined by the pepper.

"Revenge, ye gods, how sweet," chanted Fairy. "The twins are getting
even with a vengeance,--the same twins you said were adorable, Babbie."
It must be said for Fairy that her good nature could stand almost
anything. Even this did not seriously disturb her. "Do you suppose
you can find us some milk, Prue? And crackers! I'm so fond of
crackers and milk, aren't you, Babbie?"

"Oh, I adore it. But serve a microscope with it, please. I want to
examine it for microbes before I taste."

But Prudence did better than that. She made some delicious cocoa, and
opened a can of pear preserves, donated to the parsonage by the amiable
Mrs. Adams. The twins were very fond of pear preserves, and had been
looking forward to eating these on their approaching birthday. They
were doomed to disappointment! The three had a merry little feast,
after all, and their laughter rang out so often and so unrestrainedly
that the twins shook in their beds with rage and disappointment.

Mr. Starr came in while they were eating, and joined them genially.
But afterward, when Prudence realized that etiquette called for their
retirement, her father still sat complacently by the register, talking
and laughing. Prudence fastened her eyes upon him.

"Well, I must honestly go to bed," she said, gazing hypnotically at her
father. "I know you will excuse me. I must store up my strength to
deal with the twins in the morning."

She got up from her chair, and moved restlessly about the room, still
boring her father with her