absolutely spotless for once,--I am sure it will be the first time."

"And the last, I hope," added Carol sepulchrally.

"We have an hour and a half yet," continued Prudence. "That will give
us plenty of time for the last touches. Twins and Connie, you'd better
go right out in the field and play. I'll call you a little before two,
and then you must go quietly upstairs, and dress--just wear your plain
little ginghams, the clean ones of course! Then if they do catch a
glimpse of you, you will be presentable.--Yes, you can take some bread
and sugar, but hurry."

"You may take," said Fairy.

"Yes, of course, may take is what I mean.--Now hurry."

Then Prudence and Fairy set to work again in good earnest. The house
was already well cleaned. The sandwiches were made. But there were
the last "rites," and every detail must be religiously attended to.

It must be remembered that the three main down-stairs rooms of the
parsonage were connected by double doors,--double doors, you
understand, not portières! The front room, seldom used by the
parsonage family, opened on the right of the narrow hallway. Beyond it
was the living-room, which it must be confessed the parsonage girls
only called "living-room" when they were on their Sunday
behavior,--ordinarily it was the sitting-room, and a cheery, homey,
attractive place it was, with a great bay window looking out upon the
stately mansion of the Averys. To the left of the living-room was the
dining-room. The double doors between them were always open. The