"Certainly not! I wouldn't cry before him. He would say that was foolish or wicked or something it shouldn't be. But you--you are so sensible I don't mind if you do see me with my eyes red." "Ha, ha, that's a compliment. I have been told that I am happy-go-lucky and sort of a cheerful idiot, but no person ever told me that I'm sensible. Well, don't you forget me when you get to be that prima donna." "I won't. You and Mother Bab rub me the right way." "But won't she be glad when I tell her," said David. "I came down to see if you had decided about it, and I find it all arranged." "And me in tears," added Phœbe, her natural poise and good humor again restored. "Tell Mother Bab I am coming up soon to tell her about it." So, in happier mood, she walked beside David, down the green lane to the road, across the road to her own gate. "So you come once!" Aunt Maria greeted her. "Oh, I forgot your pennyroyal! I'll go get it." "Never mind. You stayed so long I went over to the field near the barn and got some. But you look like you've been cryin', Phœbe. Did you and Phares have a fall-out?" "No." "You and David, then?" "No--please don't ask me--it's nothing." "Well, there ain't no man in shoe leather worth cryin' about, I can tell you that. They just laugh at your cryin'." Phœbe smiled at her aunt's philosophy and resolved to forget the discouraging words of the preacher. She would be happy in spite of him--the future held bright hours for her! CHAPTER XIII THE SCARLET TANAGER THE days that followed were busy days at the gray farmhouse. Phœbe was soon deep in the preparations for her stay in the city. Her meagre wardrobe required replenishment; she wanted to go to Philadelphia with an outfit of which Miss Lee would not be ashamed. Much to her aunt's surprise the girl selected one-piece dresses of blue serge with sheer white collars for every-day wear in cold weather; a few white linens for warm days; and these, with her blue serge suit, her simple white graduation dress, and a plain dark silk dress, were the main articles of her outfit. Aunt Maria expressed her relief and wonder at the girl's choice--"Well, it wonders me that you don't want a lot of ugly fancy things to go to Phildelphy. Those dresses all made in one are sensible once. I guess the style makers tried all the outlandish styles they could think of and had to make a nice style once." But when Phœbe purchased a piece of long-cloth and began to make undergarments, beautifying them by sprays of hand embroidery, Aunt Maria scoffed, "Umph, I'd be ashamed to put snake-doctors on my petticoats." The girl laughed. "They aren't snake-doctors, they are butterflies," she said. "Not much difference--both got wings. I don't see what for you want to waste time like that." "It makes them prettier, and I like pretty things."