"Miss Brigham, it's us. Prudence and Samantha," Prudence said. Miss Brigham stared at them, her eyes narrowing.

"Oh my, what's happened to you two? You've become such darling little girls. My, look at those adorable freckles and you have such lovely dimples now." She pinched Prudence's cheeks until Prudence winced in pain. Then Miss Brigham turned to Samantha. "You look better now with a little more meat on your bones. And what gorgeous dark hair you have. Oh, won't you please let me braid it for you?"

Samantha touched the back of her head, feeling the tangled hair that went down past her waist. "I think I'll leave it the way it is," she said.

"I really must thank the reverend for making you two into such adorable little creatures," Miss Brigham said.

"I'm afraid you can't," Samantha said.

"Whyever not? Is he still sleeping? I'd hate to bother a reverend, but I could come back later after breakfast."

"Reverend Crane is dead. So is Mr. Pryde," Samantha said.

"Dead? No, that can't be. Whatever shall we do now without the reverend? Who will look after us?"

"We'll have to look out for each other," Samantha replied. For the first time in her second adolescence, Miss Brigham had nothing to say. Samantha took her hand and started to lead her back into town. She stopped at the church to open Helena's hiding place, where she found the copy of Forever Young.

She handed the book to Miss Brigham, who took it as though it were a dead snake. "What do I do with this?" she asked.

"Read it to us at bedtime," Samantha said. "You don't have to worry about The Way anymore."

"Oh my, I'm not sure I should-"

"Please," Samantha and Prudence pleaded as one.

"All right. I can't resist such adorable little girls." Samantha and Prudence hugged Miss Brigham, who patted them gently on their heads. "I suppose we should check in on the others and see how they're faring."

"I'll race you there," Samantha said to Prudence. The two girls flew towards the dormitories, laughing all the way.



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