Jeff drew the rugs tighter about Evelyn, then lifted a corner to peer in.  “Don’t be frightened, little girl.  We’ll get out of this all right,” he said, as cheerfully as he could, although he was alarmed for her safety more than he would have dared to admit, even to himself.

The other girls were all strong, healthy specimens of young womanhood, presumably able to endure a good deal of cold and exposure without danger of serious harm.  But this little sensitive plant!  Jeff waited in suspense for her answer.

It came in a clear, sweet voice, without a particle of fright in it:  “Of course we shall.  And won’t it be fun to tell about it afterward?”

“You’re right, it will!” he responded, with enthusiasm.  Inwardly he said, “You’re a plucky one, all right.”  Then, with the other fellows, he leaped out of the sleigh, and went to trampling down the snow around the imprisoned horses.

* * * * *

Alone together, after Randolph and Lucy had gone to bed, Andrew and Charlotte passed the long evening.  Charlotte was not willing to let Evelyn come home to a closed and silent house, so the two awaited her arrival.

“Why, Andy, it’s snowing furiously!” said Charlotte, from the window, whither she had gone at the stroke of twelve.  Doctor Churchill put down the book from which he had been reading aloud, and came to her side.

“So it is.  Blowing, too.  But it can’t have been at it long or we should have noticed.”

“I’ve been noticing the wind now and then for the last hour.  I hope it’s not grown cold.  I wouldn’t have anything happen to upset Evelyn’s improvement for the world.”

“Nothing will.  They’ll be home before the half-hour.  Come back and listen to the rest of this chapter.”

Charlotte came back, but as the quarter-hours went slowly by she became restless, and vibrated so continually between fireplace and window that Andy finally put away the book and kept her company.

“It’s growing worse every minute.”  Charlotte’s face was pressed close against the frosty pane.  “If they don’t come by one it will look as if something had happened.”

“Oh, they’re at the irresponsible age.  When they come they’ll say, ’Why, we didn’t dream it was so late!’”

“Jeff’s not irresponsible when he gives a promise.  He never breaks one,” Charlotte answered, confidently.

“This storm would make the roads heavy.  Even if they started on time, they would have to travel twice as slowly as when they went.  Stop worrying, dear; it’s not in character for you.”

Charlotte closed her lips, but when the clock struck one her eyes spoke for her.  “Evelyn is so delicate,” they said, mutely, and Andy answered as if she had spoken.

“Evelyn is wrapped too heavily to be cold.  Besides, they’ll all take care of her.  She won’t come to any harm, I’m sure of it.  They’ll be here before half-past-one, I’m confident, and then we can antidote any chill she may have got.”