Part 28 (2/2)
It was mighty lucky he happened along, wasn't it? A Harvard graduate!
Yes, they are pretty strong on athletics at Harvard. You'd better straighten this room a little and have things looking nice when he gets 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 b.u.t.tons 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 t.i.tles,--Lord Jerrold did sound so n.o.ble, 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 pa.s.sed.
”I'll begin my book right away,” Lark was saying. She and Carol were in the dining-room madly polis.h.i.+ng 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 I are going to use some of Fairy's powder, father,” she said.
”We feel that we simply must on an occasion like this. And for goodness'
sake, don't mention it before Him! It doesn't happen very often, you know, but to-day we simply must. Now, don't you say anything about falling in the flour barrel, or turning pale all of a sudden, whatever else you do. We'd be so mortified, father.”
Mr. Starr was concerned with weightier matters, and went on down to Prudence with never so much as a reproving shake of the head for the worldly-minded young twins.
”Father,” began Prudence, her eyes on the lace coverlet, ”do you think it would be all right for me to wear that silk dressing-gown of mother's? I need something over my nightgown, and my old flannel kimono is so ugly.
You know, mother said I was to have it, and--I'm twenty now. Do you think it would be all right? But if you do not want me to wear it----”
”I do want you to,” was the prompt reply. ”Yes, it is quite time you were wearing it. I'll get it out of the trunk myself, and send Fairy down to help you.” Then as he turned toward the door, he asked carelessly, ”Is he very good-looking, Prudence?”
And Prudence, with a crimson face, answered quickly, ”Oh, I really didn't notice, father.”
He went on up-stairs then, and presently Fairy came down with the dainty silk gown trimmed with fine soft lace. ”I brought my lavender ribbon for your hair, Prudence. It will match the gown so nicely. Oh, you do look sweet, dearest. I pity Jerrold Harmer, I can tell you that. Now I must hurry and finish my own dressing.”
But with her foot on the bottom stair, she paused. Her sister was calling after her. ”Send father down here, quick, Fairy.”
Father ran down quickly, and Prudence, catching hold of his hands, whispered wretchedly, ”Oh, father, he--he is good-looking. I--I did notice it. I didn't really mean to lie to you.”
”There, now, Prudence,” he said, kissing her tenderly, ”you mustn't get excited again. I'm afraid you are too nervous to have callers. You must lie very quietly until he comes. That was no lie, child. You are so upset you do not know what you are saying to-day. Be quiet now, Prudence,--it's nearly time for him to come.”
”You are a dear good father,” she cried, kissing his hands pa.s.sionately, ”but it was a lie. I did know what I was saying. I did it on purpose.”
And Mr. Starr's heart was heavy, for he knew that his fears were realized.
CHAPTER XII
ROUSED FROM HER SLUMBER
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