"No, Prissy; you must get some fresh air and exercise. You are killing yourself; and then when you have succeeded in so doing, what is to become of votre père? Now there is a poor woman in the town who says she 'be's greatly in want of a sight of Miss Warner,' for her spirits be down, and there's none can comfort her like the miss from the Grove. I be's 'too much of a French woman' for she, you know, so do go, there's a chère petite, and I shall stay here and read to the good professor for an hour."
Prissy's face brightened, both at the girl's cheery words, and at the prospect of getting what, truth to tell, she had been longing to obtain—a brisk walk in the winter sunshine, if only she could do so without neglecting her home duties.
"Well, Gabrielle, la belle Gabrielle," she said, "you always do contrive to get your own way somehow; and if you would read to papa for one hour, I would like to take a short walk and go to the town to see some of the people there. Now let us make an inroad on papa in his study, and leave Claude to finish that sum alone."
Arm in arm the two girls went into the library, surprising the professor as he sat absorbed in thought.
Gabrielle's silvery voice broke the silence. "Dr. Warner," she said, "will you let me take Prissy's place for a while to-day? Vous voyez the fairies have been at work all night covering the trees with silver, and it is so lovely out of doors, and I wish Prissy to see it ere it vanishes; so I have come to read to you—not on mathematical subjects, please. But I am ready for anything else you like; only say I may remain."
Dr. Warner smiled. "Surely, if you will," he said. "I know Priscilla does not go out enough, especially since I have had this bad cold, and she has not had me to take charge of out of doors.—So, my daughter, la belle Francaise shall read to me, and we'll leave the mathematical papers till night."
Prissy pressed a kiss on her father's brow, saying cheerfully, "As you like it, papa; only don't let Gabrielle usurp my place!"
"No fears of that," said her friend. "But, Prissy, suppose you take little Ruth with you, and leave her to play for an hour in our cottage with Jeanie. And you can tell ma chère mère that I am here, and she need not expect me back for a long while."
"Very well," said Prissy, "I'll do so. Ruth will be charmed to go. And see you take good care of papa."
And so saying, Prissy Warner, giving her friend a bright smile, ran off to get herself and Ruth ready for a walk in the bright winter sunshine.