"But, John, I must go in and fix my hair."
"Your hair looks as usual."
"But I don't want it to look as usual. Do you want the bride to forget her attire and her ornaments?"
A blue figure with curls flying and arms outstretched was flying down towards them from the upper end of the path.
"O, Aunt Prue! Mr. March has come over—without Mrs. March, and he asked for you. I told him Uncle John had come home, and he smiled, and said he could not get along without him."
"John, you should have asked Mrs. March, too."
"I forgot the etiquette of it. I forgot she was your pastor's wife. But it's too late now."
"Prue!" Miss Prudence laid her hand on Prue's head to keep her quiet.
"Ask Marjorie and Mrs. Kemlo and Deborah to come into the parlor."
"We are to be married, Prue!" said John Holmes.
"Who is?" asked Prue.