"I'll tell Aunt Grace, then."
"Aunt Grace knows it, too."
"Does Prudence know it?"
"Yes."
Carol swallowed this bitter pill in silence.
"How long?" she inquired at last.
"About a year. Look here, Carol, I'll show you something. Really I'm glad you know about it. We're pretty young, and papa thought we ought to keep it dark a while to make sure. That's why we didn't tell you. Look at this." From her cedar chest—a Christmas gift from Gene—she drew out a small velvet jeweler's box, and displayed before the admiring eyes of Carol a plain gold ring with a modest diamond.
Carol kissed it. Then she kissed Fairy twice.
"I know you'll be awfully happy, Fairy," she said soberly. "And I'm glad of it. But—I can't honestly believe there's any man good enough for our girls. Babbie's nice, and dear, and all that, and he's so crazy about you, and—do you love him?" Her eyes were wide, rather wondering, as she put this question softly.
Fairy put her arm about her sister's shoulders, and her fine steady eyes met Carol's clearly.