whispered passionately, sobbing, quivering
in his arms. It was he who drew away.

"Good-by, sweetheart," he said quietly, great pity in his heart for the
girl who in her desire to do right was doing such horrible wrong.
"Good-by, sweetheart. Remember, I will be waiting. Whenever you send,
I will come."

He stepped outside, and closed the door. Prudence stood motionless,
her hands clenched, until she could no longer hear his footsteps. Then
she dropped on the floor, and lay there, face downward, until she heard
Fairy moving in her room up-stairs. Then she went into the kitchen and
built the fire for breakfast.

CHAPTER XIV

SHE COMES TO GRIEF

Fairy was one of those buoyant, warm-blooded girls to whom sleep is
indeed the great restorer. She slept soundly, sweetly, dreamlessly.
And every morning she ran down-stairs so full of animation and life
that she seemed all atingle to her finger-tips. Now she stood in the
kitchen door, tall, cheeks glowing, eyes sparkling, and smiled at her
sister's solemn back.

"You are the little mousey, Prue," she said, in her full rich voice.
"I didn't hear you come to bed last night, and I didn't hear you
getting out this morning. I am an abominably solid sleeper, am I not?
Shall I get the maple sirup for the pancakes? I wonder if Jerry knows
we only use maple sirup when he is here. I'm constantly expecting
Connie to give it away. Why am I always so ravenously hungry in the
morning? Goodness knows I eat enough--Why, what is the matter?" For
Prudence had turned her face toward her sister, and it was so white and
so unnatural that Fairy was shocked.

"Prudence! You are sick! Go to bed and let me get breakfast. Why
didn't you call me? I'm real angry at you, Prudence Starr! Here, get
out of this, and I will----"

"There's nothing the matter with me. I had a headache, and did not
sleep, but I am all right now. Yes, bring the sirup, Fairy. Are the
girls up yet?"

Fairy eyed her suspiciously. "Jerry is out unusually early, too, isn't
he? His door is open. I didn't hear him coming down so he must have
quite outdone himself to-day. He generally has to be called twice."

"Jerry has gone, Fairy." Prudence's back was presented to view once
more, and Prudence was stirring the oatmeal with vicious energy. "He
left early this morning,--I suppose he is half-way to Des Moines by
now."

"Oh!" Fairy's voice was non-committal.

"Will you get the sirup now?"