"That's so, too," said Prudence, nodding. "But they are the ones that
really count, you know. I'm just common little Prudence of the
Parsonage,--but the others!" And Prudence flung out her hands
dramatically.




CHAPTER II

THE REST OF THE FAMILY

It was Saturday morning when the four young parsonage girls arrived in
Mount Mark. The elderly Misses Avery, next door, looked out of their
windows, pending their appearance on Main Street, with interest and
concern. It was a serious matter, this having a whole parsonage-full of
young girls so close to the old Avery mansion. To be sure, the Averys
had a deep and profound respect for ministerial households, but they were
Episcopalians themselves, and in all their long lives they had never so
much as heard of a widower-rector with five daughters, and no
housekeeper. There was something blood-curdling in the bare idea.

The Misses Avery considered Prudence herself rather a sweet, silly little
thing.

"You have some real nice people in the Methodist church," Miss Dora had
told her. "I dare say you will find a few of them very likeable."

"Oh, I will like them all," said Prudence quickly and seriously.