But in spite of his new devotion to Connie, Mr. Starr also spent a great deal of time with Fairy. "We must get fast chums, Fairy," he often said to her. "This is our last chance. We have to get cemented for a lifetime, you know." And Fairy, when he said so, caught his hand and laughed a little tremulously. Indeed, he was right when he said it was his last chance with Fairy in the parsonage. Two weeks before her commencement she had slipped into the library and closed the door cautiously behind her. "Father," she said, "would you be very sorry if I didn't teach school after all?" "Not a bit," came the ready answer. "I mean if I--you see, father, since you sent me to college I feel as if I ought to work and--help out." "That's nonsense," he said, drawing the tall girl down to his knees. "I can take care of my own family, thanks. Are you trying to run me out of my job? If you want to work, all right, do it, but for yourself, and not for us. Or if you want to do anything else," he did not meet her eyes, "if you want to stay at home a year or so before you get married, it would please us better than anything else. And when you want to marry Gene, we're expecting it, you know." "Yes, I know," she fingered the lapel of his coat uneasily. "Do you care how soon I get married?" "Are you still sure it is Gene?" "Yes, I'm sure." "Then I think you should choose your own time. I am in no hurry. But any time,--it's for you, and Gene, to decide." "Then you haven't set your heart on my teaching?" "I set my heart on giving you the best chance possible. And I have done it. For the rest, it depends on you. You may work, or you may stay at home a while. I only want you to be happy, Fairy." "But doesn't it seem foolish to go clear through college, and spend the money, and then--marry without using the education?" "I do not think so. They've been fine years, and you are finer because of them. There's just as much opportunity to use your fineness in a home of your own as in a public school. That's the way I look at it." "You don't think I'm too young?" "You're pretty young," he said slowly. "I can hardly say, Fairy. You've always been capable and self-possessed. When you and Gene get so crazy about each other you can't bear to be apart any longer, it's all right here." She put her arm around his neck and rubbed her fingers over his cheek lovingly. "You understand, don't you, father, that I'm just going to be plain married when the time comes? Not a wedding like Prudence's. Gene, and the girls, and Prue and Jerry, and you, father, that is all." "Yes, all right. It's your day, you know." "And we won't talk much about it beforehand. We all know how we feel about things. It would be silly for me to try to tell you what a grand sweet father you've been to us. I can't tell you,--if I tried I'd only cry. You know what I think."