"It's a punishment on us for even looking at the book—good Methodists like we are. I'll burn it. That's what I'll do."
"You'll have to pay for it at the library if you do," cautioned frugal Carol.
"Well, we'll just go and tell Prudence it was a joke,—Prudence is always reasonable. She won't—"
"She'll punish us, and—it'll be such a joke on us, Larkie. Even Connie'll laugh."
They squirmed together, wretchedly, at that.
"We'll tell them we have decided it is false."
"They said we'd probably do that for their sakes."
"It—it was a good joke while it lasted," said Carol, with a very faint shadow of a smile. "Don't you remember how Prudence gasped? She kept her mouth open for five minutes!"
"It's still a joke," added Lark gloomily, "but it's on us."