dinner,--they tried to remember to call it luncheon, but never succeeded!
After that, the whole parsonage family grouped about the little single
bed in the cheery sitting-room.

"Whose coat is this, Prudence?" asked Connie.

"And where in the world did you get these towels and silk shirts?" added
Fairy.

Prudence blushed most exquisitely. "They are Mr. Harmer's," she said,
and glanced nervously at her father.

"Whose?" chorused the family. And it was plain to be seen that Lark was
ready to take mental notes with an eye to future stories.

"If you will sit down and keep still, I will tell you all about it. But
you must not interrupt me. What time is it, Fairy?"

"Two o'clock."

"Oh, two. Then I have plenty of time. Well, when I got to that little
cross-cut through the hickory grove, about four miles out from town, I
thought I would coast down the long hill. Do you remember that hill,
father? There was no one in sight, and no animals, except one hoary old
mule, grazing at the bottom. It was irresistible, absolutely
irresistible. So I coasted. But you know yourself, father, there is no
trusting a mule. They are the most undependable animals." Prudence
looked thoughtfully down at the bed for a moment, and added slowly,
"Still, I have no hard feelings against the mule. In fact, I kind of
like him.--Well, anyway, just as I got to the critical place in the hill,