“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.”