There could be no doubt that Evelyn was having a good time.  Everything pleased her, everybody interested her.  It seemed to her that she had never seen such charming young people before.

The little play made her laugh till she was as flushed and gay as a child.  Those with whom Evelyn showed herself so delighted became equally delighted with her, and before the evening was over she was feeling that she had always known these young friends, had forgotten that she had ever been an invalid, and was indeed “sparkling,” as Carolyn Houghton had said, in a way that drew all eyes toward her in admiration.

Jeff, indeed, stared at her as if he had never seen her before.

“I’m sure this isn’t hurting you a bit,” he said in her ear, as the evening slipped on.  “You must be feeling pretty well, for I’ve never seen you so jolly.  I’m going to do the prescribing after this.  I know what’s good for little girls.”

“I believe you do,” Evelyn answered.  “No, I’m not a bit tired.  Why, is it almost eleven?”

“Yes, and time to go, if we live up to our promises.  Seems a pity, doesn’t it?  But it doesn’t pay to break your word, so as soon as you girls can get into your toggery we’ll be off.”

“Of course, we must keep our promise,” agreed Evelyn, with decision, and straightway she went up-stairs for her wraps.  The other girls followed more reluctantly.

“’Goodness, girls, look out!” cried somebody from the window.  “Did you ever see it so thick?  The barns are just down there, where that glimmer is, but you can’t see them at all.”

“All the more fun,” said another girl.

“We’re pretty far out in the country, and the road’s awfully winding.  I hope we get home all right.”

“Oh, nonsense!” said some one else, with great positiveness.  “I should know the way with my eyes shut.  Besides, it was as clear as a bell when we came.  It can’t have been snowing long enough to block things in the least.”

They found it had done so however, when they descended to the sleigh.  That vehicle had been brought close to the porch, that the girls might not have to walk through the deep snow.  The air was so full of the whirling white particles that from the farther end of the sleigh one could barely see the horses.

“I declare, I don’t feel just easy about you folks starting out,” said the farmer whose guests they had been.  “Better watch the road some careful, you driver.  I suppose you know it pretty well.”

“He doesn’t, but I do!” called a tall youth from the driver’s seat.  “I’ll keep him straight.  We’ll be all right.  We’re due home at midnight, and we’ll be there, unless the roads are too heavy to keep the pace we came in.”

“No, sir, we can’t ever keep the pace we come in,” presently averred the man from the livery-stable, who was driving.  “The road’s pretty heavy.  I declare, I don’t know as I ever see snow so thick.  Do I turn a little to the right here or do I keep straight ahead?”