"Oh! yes," she murmured eagerly, and was conscious from the expression on Mrs Morgan's face, of giving offence. "I've never been to a dance-- a real dance in my life," she added. "Too much thought is given to amusement nowadays," Mrs Morgan observed. "When I was a girl we seldom went to evening parties. Late hours rob young people of their freshness, and these modern dances are very vulgar. Edward dislikes dancing." "Oh! once in a way I can put up with that sort of thing," he interposed quickly. "If Prudence enjoys it, I expect I shall get some pleasure out of the evening." Prudence gave him a grateful look, and, in reward for his consideration, remarked: "It's fortunate that I brought my pearls. It's such a splendid opportunity for wearing them. You didn't prepare me for these festivities." "Upon my word," he returned, laughing, "I never gave it a thought." He became aware of his mother's silence, her tight-lipped disapproval, and turned the subject diplomatically. "There's a busy time ahead for you. We've quite a lot of things calling for your attention. And my mother is looking forward to showing you over the house, and letting you into the inner mysteries. She is quite a wonderful housewife." "Prudence is probably not domesticated," Mrs Morgan said. "Girls show no interest in their homes nowadays. Things are left to servants." "I've never had much chance," Prudence explained apologetically. "You see, I am the youngest of six daughters. But I'd like to learn." Mr Morgan considered her gentle submissiveness very sweet. He was surprised at his mother's lack of response to this softly-voiced desire; for himself, he felt a strong temptation to kiss the pretty timid face of the speaker, but his natural shyness restrained him from obeying this impulse. "Six woman are too many in one household," Mrs Morgan vouchsafed. "Some of you ought to have married." "One of us has," Prudence answered. "And another is going to," Mr Morgan put in, with a tentative smile at his fiancee. She laughed softly. "It suggests the rhyme of the ten little nigger boys," she said. "Six women in one house; one of them married, and then there were five." Later, when Prudence had gone upstairs to her room, Mrs Morgan voiced her opinion of her to her son in a single expressive phrase. "I am afraid, Edward, that your choice has fallen on a rather frivolous girl." CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.