Two hours later, she went quietly down-stairs to where the rest of the family were decorating a Christmas tree. She showed the ring to them gravely.
"Jerry sent it to me," she said. "Do you think it is all right for me to wear it, father?"
A thrill of hopeful expectancy ran through the little group.
"Yes, indeed," declared her father. "How beautiful it is! Is Jerry coming to spend Christmas with us?"
"Why, no, father,—he is not coming at all any more. I thought you understood that."
An awkward silence, and Carol came brightly to the rescue. "It certainly is a beauty! I thought it was very kind of Professor Duckie to send Lark and me a five-pound box of chocolates, but of course this is ever so much nicer. Jerry's a bird, I say."
"A bird!" mocked Fairy. "Such language."
Lark came to her twin's defense. "Yes, a bird,—that's just what he is."
Carol smiled. "We saw him use his wings when Connie yanked him out of the big maple, didn't we, Lark?" Then, "Did you send him anything, Prue?"
Prudence hesitated, and answered without the slightest accession of color, "Yes, Carol. I had my picture taken when I was in Burlington, and sent it to him."