Reform School,--that will help you remember what happens to boys and
girls who get in the habit of taking things on the spur of the moment!"

The twins accepted all of this graciously, except that which referred
to confessing their sin to their neighbors. That did hurt! The twins
were so superior, and admirable! They couldn't bear to ruin their
reputations. But Prudence stood firm, in spite of their weeping and
wailing. And that afternoon two shamefaced sorry girls crept meekly in
at the Averys' door to make their peace.

"But about the Skull and Crossbones, it's mostly punishment for me,
Prue," said Connie regretfully, "for the twins have been in it ever
since we came to Mount Mark, and I never got in at all! And I wanted
them to call me Lady Magdalina Featheringale." And Connie sighed.




CHAPTER V

THE TWINS STICK UP FOR THE BIBLE

Prudence had been calling on a "sick member." Whenever circumstances
permitted she gladly served as pastoral assistant for her father, but
she always felt that raising the family was her one big job, and
nothing was allowed to take precedence of it. As she walked that
afternoon down Maple Street,--seemingly so-called because it was
bordered with grand old elms,--she felt at peace with all the world.
The very sunshine beaming down upon her through the huge skeletons of
the leafless elms, was not more care-free than the daughter of the