long was dangerous.

"I have talked my share now," he was saying, "tell me all about yourself,
and the parsonage, and your family. And who is Fairy? And do you attend
the college at Mount Mark? You look like a college girl."

"Oh, I am not," said Prudence, reluctant to make the admission for the
first time in her life. "I am too stupid to be a college girl. Our
mother is not living, and I left high school five years ago and have been
keeping house for my father and sisters since then. I am twenty years
old. How old are you?"

"I am twenty-seven," and he smiled.

"Jerrold Harmer," she said slowly and very musically. "It is such a nice
name. Do your friends call you Jerry?"

"The boys at school called me Roldie, and sometimes Hammie. But my
mother always called me Jerry. She isn't living now, either. You call
me Jerry, will you?"

"Yes, I will, but it won't be proper. But that never makes any
difference to me,--except when it might shock the members! You want me
to call you Jerry, don't you?"

"Yes, I do. And when we are better acquainted, will you let me call you
Prudence?"

"Call me that now.--I can't be too particular, you see, when I am lying
on your coat and pillowed with your belongings. You might get cross, and