"Don't be silly, Fairy. If I was going to marry anybody, which I am
not, I hope you do not think for one minute that I'd marry a buggist!
Gracious! Goodness! I've a notion not to go a step! I'll call him up
and----"

But Fairy only laughed.

And after all, Prudence looked forward to the little outing in the
glorious October woods with eager anticipation. It was seldom indeed
that she indulged in merry-making away from the parsonage. Yet she was
fond of gaiety. Long before one o'clock on that eventful day, she was
ready. And her face was so bright, and her eyes so starry, that placid
self-satisfied Fairy felt a twinge of something like envy.

"You look like a creature from another world, Prue," she said. "If
Professor Rayburn has any sense in his bones, he will fall dead in love
with you,--bugs or no bugs!"

"People do not have sense in their bones, Fairy, and--and--shall I say
professor, or just plain Mister?"

"Professor, I suppose,--every one calls him professor."

"Then I shall say Mister," said Prudence. "It will be so hard to enjoy
myself if I keep remembering that he teaches bugs! I might as well be
at school. I shall say Mister."

And she did say "Mister," and she said it so sweetly, and looked up
into Professor Rayburn's face so brightly, and with happiness so