“I am not thinking anything of the kind, Prudence,” he said with dignity.  “But I do think it rather strange that a young man should set out to walk from Des Moines to Mount Mark.  And why should he be at it so early in the morning?  Doesn’t he require sleep, as the rest of us do?”

“How should I know?  I guess if he likes to be but in the morning when it is fresh and sweet, it is all right.  I like the morning myself.  He had as much right out early as I had.  His clothes were nice, and he is a Harvard graduate, and his shoes were dusty, but not soiled or worn.  Anyhow, he is coming at four o’clock.  If you want to ask if he is a tramp, you can do it.”  And Prudence burst into tears.

Dramatic silence in the cheerful sitting-room!  Then Fairy began bustling about to bathe the face and throat of “poor little Prudence,” and her father said sympathetically: 

“You’re all nervous and wrought up, with the pain and excitement, Prudence.  I’m glad he is coming so we can thank him for his kindness.  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 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.”