“Well, I have my share of you, father,” she said comfortingly.  “And I’ve always had my share of oatmeal and sorghum molasses,—­though one wouldn’t think it to look at me.  Fairy gained a whole inch last week at Aunt Grace’s.  She was so disgusted with herself.  She says she’ll not be able to look back on the visit with any pleasure at all, just because of that inch.  Carol said she ought to look back with more pleasure, because there’s an inch more of her to do it!  But Fairy says she did not gain the inch in her eyes!  Aunt Grace laughed every minute we were there.  She says she is all sore up and down, from laughing so much.”

“We have the house fixed up pretty well, Prudence, but of course you’ll have to go over it yourself and arrange it as you like.  But remember this:  You are not allowed to move the heavy furniture.  I forbid it emphatically.  There isn’t enough of you for that.”

“Yes, I’ll remember,—­I think I will.  I’m almost certain to remember some things, you know.”

“I must go to a trustees’ meeting at two o’clock, but we can get a good deal done before then.  Mrs. Adams is coming to help you this afternoon.  She is one of our Ladies, and very kind.  There, that is the parsonage!”

Prudence gazed in silence.  Many would not have considered it a beautiful dwelling, but to Prudence it was heavenly.  Fortunately the wide, grassy, shaded lawn greeted one first.  Great spreading maples bordered the street, and clustering rose-bushes lined the walk leading up to the house.  The walk was badly worn and broken to be sure,—­but the roses were lovely!  The grass had been carefully cut,—­the father-minister had seen to that.  The parsonage, to Prudence’s gratified eyes, looked homey, and big, and inviting.  In fact, it was very nearly gorgeous!  It needed painting badly, it is true.  The original color had been a peculiar drab, but most of it had disappeared long before, so it was no eyesore on account of the color.  There were many windows, and the well-known lace curtains looked down upon Prudence tripping happily up the little board walk,—­or so it seemed to her.

“Two whole stories, and an attic besides!  Not to mention the bathroom!  Oh, father, the night after you wrote there was a bathroom, Constance thanked God for it when she said her prayers.  And I couldn’t reprove her, for I felt the same way about it myself.  It’ll be so splendid to have a whole tub to bathe in!  I spent half the time bathing this last week at Aunt Grace’s.  A tub is so bountiful!  A pan is awfully insufficient, father, even for me!  I often think what a trouble it must be to Fairy!  And a furnace, too!  And electric lights!  Don’t you think there is something awe-inspiring in the idea of just turning a little knob on the wall, and flooding a whole room with light?  I do revel in electric lights, I tell you.  Oh, we have waited a long time for it, and we’ve been very patient indeed, but, between you and me, father, I am most mightily glad we’ve hit the luxury-land at last.  I’m sure we’ll all feel much more religious in a parsonage that has a bathroom and electric lights!  Oh, father!”