"Mr. Lawrence has returned," presently said Prudence. "How do you know?" the other asked, quickly. "Because we met him, Leander and I, on the Pine-wood road. Now if you scream I won't tell you anything more; and it really isn't anything to speak of, only he is on his way here now, and on a feather bed also, because they didn't have any mattresses. If it isn't ribs it's collar-bone,--what was it the Physiology used to call collar-bone?--and he's sane, and knew me, and wanted to swear, but wouldn't, much. So you see you needn't be alarmed a particle." Carolyn had detached herself from her companion, and was gazing at her, her lips growing white, as she listened. "His horse threw him," added Prudence, shortly. "Threw him?" "Yes," with still more impatience. "What else do you want me to say. Didn't I tell you he was on his way home, and that it was a feather bed only because I couldn't get a mattress? I did as well as I could." Here Prudence gave a short laugh, and lightly kissed her companion's cheek. Carolyn tried to appear calm. Her imagination had leaped to every dreadful thing. She wanted to turn her back on this girl, but, instead of doing that, she looked at her intently, and asked, steadily: "Are you telling me the truth?" "Absolutely. I don't think your precious young man is hurt much, only shaken up a bit." The two girls were silent for a few moments. Carolyn had turned, and they were both walking back over the road, that they might the sooner meet the cart that was bringing Lawrence to Savin Hill. "Providence made a great mistake in sending me to find your lover," at last said Prudence. "If Providence had wished to do the perfectly correct thing, you would have been on the Pine-wood road this morning. But then, when does Providence act quite up to the mark? I am tired of Providence myself." Though Carolyn gazed at the speaker, she did not apparently hear her. Her eyes wandered off down the road. After another short silence, Prudence spoke again. "I hope there are people coming to the house this summer. I should go raving mad if I had only you and Rodney, and you two in love with each other." The girl shrugged her shoulders, and shuddered. As there was no answer, she repeated: "I suppose you are in love with each other, aren't you?" "I suppose so," mechanically. "That's what I thought. Are there people coming?" "Oh, yes." "Men?" "A few."