here," said Father Starr, with great diplomacy. And he was rewarded, and
startled, by observing that Prudence brightened wonderfully at his words.

"Yes, do," she urged eagerly. "Get some of the roses from the corner
bush, and put them on the table there. And when you go up-stairs, Fairy,
you'd better bring down that little lace spread in the bottom drawer of
our dresser. It'll look very nice on this bed.--Work hard, girls, and
get everything looking fine. He'll be here at four, he said. You twins
may wear your white dresses, and Connie must put on her blue and wear her
blue bows.--Fairy, do you think it would be all right for you to wear
your silk dress? Of course, the silk is rather grand for home, but you
do look so beautiful in it. Father, will you put on your black suit, or
are you too busy? And don't forget to wear the pearl cuff buttons Aunt
Grace sent you."

He went up-stairs to obey, with despair in his heart. But to the girls,
there was nothing strange in this exactness on the part of Prudence.
Jerrold Harmer was the hero of the romance, and they must unite to do him
honor. He was probably a prince in disguise. Jerrold Harmer was a
perfectly thrilling name. It was really a shame that America allows no
titles,--Lord Jerrold did sound so noble, and Lady Prudence was very
effective, too. He and Prudence were married, and had a family of four
children, named for the various Starrs, before one hour had passed.

"I'll begin my book right away," Lark was saying. She and Carol were in
the dining-room madly polishing their Sunday shoes,--what time they were
not performing the marriage ceremony of their sister and The Hero.

"Yes, do! But for goodness' sake, don't run her into a mule! Seems to
me even Prudence could have done better than that."

"I'll have his automobile break down in the middle of the road, and
Prudence can run into it. The carbureter came off, and of course the car
wouldn't run an inch without it."

"Yes, that's good," said Carol approvingly. "It must be a sixty
cylinder, eight horsepower--er--Ford, or something real big and costly."

"Twins! You won't be ready," warned Prudence, and this dire possibility
sent them flying upstairs in a panic.

While the girls, bubbling over with excitement, were dressing for the
great event, Mr. Starr went down-stairs to sit with Prudence. Carol
called to him on his way down, and he paused on the staircase, looking up
at her.

"Lark and