Part 29 (1/2)
At twenty minutes to four, the parsonage family cl.u.s.tered excitedly in the sitting-room, which the suns.h.i.+ne flooded cheerily. They were waiting for the hero of Prudence's romance.
”Oh, Larkie, will you run up-stairs and bring my lace handkerchief? It's on our dresser, in the burnt-wood box.” And after Lark had departed, she went on, ”The flowers are not quite in the center of the table, Fairy,--a little to the right.--If you would move the curtains the least little bit, those torn places would not show.” Then she sighed. ”How nice you all look. Oh, Connie, won't you turn the clock a little this way, so I can see it? That's better, thank you, precious. Thank you, Lark,--isn't it a pretty handkerchief? I've only carried it three times, and I have never really used it. Would you keep these pearls on, Fairy, or would you take them off?”
”I would keep them on, Prue,--they catch the color of the gown a little, and are just beautiful. You do look so sweet, but your face is very flushed. I am afraid you are feverish. Maybe we had better not let him see Prue to-day, father. Perhaps he can come back to-morrow.”
”Fairy!” exclaimed Prudence. ”Besides, he must come in to get his coat.
We can't expect him to go coatless over Sunday. Listen,--listen, girls!
Look, Fairy, and see if that is he! Yes, it is, I know,--I can tell by his walk.” Warm rich color dyed her face and throat, and she clasped her hands over her heart, wondering if Connie beside her could hear its tumult.
”I'll go to the door,” said Father Starr, and Prudence looked at him beseechingly.
”I--I am sure he is all right, father. I--you will be nice to him, won't you?”
Without answering, Mr. Starr left the room. He could not trust his voice.
”Listen, girls, I want to hear,” whispered Prudence. And she smiled as she heard her father's cordial voice.
”You are Mr. Harmer, aren't you? I am Prudence's father. Come right in.
The whole family is a.s.sembled to do you honor. The girls have already made you a prince in disguise. Come back this way. Prudence is resting very nicely.”
When the two men stepped into the sitting-room, Prudence, for once, quite overlooked her father. She lifted her eyes to Jerrold Harmer's face, and waited, breathless. Nor was he long in finding her among the bevy of girls. He walked at once to the bed, and took her hand.
”My little comrade of the road,” he said gaily, but with tenderness, ”I am afraid you are not feeling well enough for callers to-day.”
”Oh, yes, I am,” protested Prudence with strange shyness.
He turned to the other girls, and greeted them easily. He was entirely self-possessed. ”Miss Starr told me so much about you that I know you all to begin with.” He smiled at Fairy as he added, ”In fact, she predicted that I am to fall in love with you. And so, very likely, I should,--if I hadn't met your sister first.”
They all laughed at that, and then he walked back and stood by Prudence once more. ”Was it a bad sprain? Does it pain you very badly? You look tired. I am afraid it was an imposition for me to come this afternoon.”
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”She predicted I'm to fall in love with you.”]
”Oh, don't worry about that,” put in Connie anxiously. ”She wanted you to come. She's been getting us ready for you ever since the doctor left.
I think it was kind of silly for me to wear my blue just for one caller.”
The twins glared at her, realizing that she was discrediting the parsonage, but Jerrold Harmer laughed, and Prudence joined him.
”It is quite true,” she admitted frankly. ”The mule and I disgraced the parsonage this morning, and I wanted the rest of you to redeem it this afternoon.” She looked at him inquiringly. ”Then you had another coat?”
”No, I didn't. I saw this one in a window this morning, and couldn't resist it. Was the ride very hard on your ankle?”
Mr. Starr was puzzled. Evidently it was not lack of funds which brought this man on foot from Des Moines to Mount Mark,--half-way across the state! He did not look like a man fleeing from justice. What, then, was the explanation?
”You must have found it rather a long walk,” he began tentatively, his eyes on the young man's face.
”Yes, I think my feet are a little blistered. I have walked farther than that many times, but I am out of practise now. Sometimes, however, walking is a painful necessity.”
”How long did it take you coming from Des Moines to Mount Mark?” inquired Carol in a subdued and respectful voice,--and curious, withal.
”I did not come directly to Mount Mark. I stopped several places on business. I hardly know how long it would take coming straight, through.