There was no apparent ground for her alarm. The twins came back with the potatoes, peeled some for luncheon, and set the table, their faces still bright and smiling. Prudence's eyes, often fastened upon their angelic countenances, grew more and more troubled. In the afternoon, they joined the little circle on the porch, but not to sew. They took a book, and lay down on a rug with the book before them, reading together. Evidently they were all absorbed. An hour passed, two hours, three. At times Carol pointed to a line, and said in a low voice, "That's good, isn't it?" And Lark would answer, "Dandy!--Have you read this?" Prudence, in spite of her devotion to the embroidering of large S's on assorted pieces of linen, never forgot the twins for a moment. "What are you reading?" she asked at last aimlessly, her only desire to be reassured by the sound of their voices. There was an almost imperceptible pause. Then Carol answered,--her chin was in her palms which may have accounted for the mumbling of the words. "_Scianceanelth._" "What?" Another pause, a little more perceptible this time. "_Science and Health_," Carol said at last, quite distinctly. "_Science and Health_," Prudence repeated, in a puzzled tone. "Is it a doctor book?" "Why--something of the sort,--yes," said Carol dubiously. "_Science and Health_? _Science and Health_," mused Fairy. "You don't mean that Christian Science book, do you? You know what I mean, Prudence--Mary Baker Eddy's book--_Science and Health_,--that's the name of it. That's not what you twins are devouring so ravenously, is it?" Carol answered with manifest reluctance, glancing nervously at Prudence, "Y-yes,--that's what it is." Ominous silence greeted this admission. A slow red flush mantled the twins' cheeks. Aunt Grace's eyes twinkled a little, although her face was grave. Fairy looked surprised. Prudence looked dumfounded. When she spoke, her words gave no sign of the cataclysmic struggle through which she had passed. "What are you reading that for?" "Why--it's very interesting," explained Lark, coming to Carol's rescue. Carol was very good at meeting investigation, but when it came to prolonged explanation, Lark stood preeminent. "Of course, we don't believe it--yet. But there are some good things in it. Part of it is very beautiful. We don't just understand it,--it's very deep. But some of the ideas are very fine, and--er--uplifting, you know." Prudence looked most miserable. "But--twins, do you think--minister's daughters ought to read--things like that?"