Patricia had offended him that afternoon by calling him a little boy.

“You mustn’t say that,” said Katie, who, being a year older than her cousin Reginald, felt obliged to reprove him when things that he said were just a little too naughty.

“You just tell me, Katie Dean, do you b’lieve she has?” he asked, but Katie was talking to Mollie, and she chose to let him think that she had not heard his question.

The day set for the two sleighrides was clear and crisp.

Mrs. Dainty and Aunt Charlotte were entertaining each other with exchanging memories of Mrs. Dainty’s school-days when with her classmates she had been as popular as Dorothy now was, and Aunt Charlotte had found it a task to keep them under good discipline without quelling their high spirits.

The fire in the grate flamed higher and crackled merrily, and in the glow the two ladies were enjoying tea, small cakes, and bonbons.

“You may go for a short sleighride, if you wish,” Mrs. Dainty said, “if you and Nancy will dress very warmly for the trip.  Aunt Charlotte and I have decided to remain here cosily by the fire.”

“But Romeo hasn’t been out for days, and I don’t mind the cold.  It’ll be just gay out in the crisp air,” Dorothy said.

“Then surely you may go if it is to be so very gay,” said Mrs. Dainty, laughing, “but remember what I said about wearing warm wraps and furs.”

Dorothy promised, and soon, with the groom riding behind them, they were off over the road.

Romeo was as delighted as they, and sped along as if shod with wings, his mane and tail floating gracefully as he almost flew along.

Dorothy and Nancy, nestled in a white fur robe, felt only the frosty touch of the sharp wind upon their cheeks, and they laughed and talked as if it had been a summer day.

On the dry bushes by the roadside great flocks of tiny sparrows hopped from twig to twig, chattering and twittering as they pecked at the little dried berries.  A great crow flew out from a bit of woodland, making a noisy protest that any one should drive over the quiet road, and thus disturb his musings.

The icicles were glittering in the sunlight, and the crust sparkled as if powdered with diamond dust, while the rough bark of the trees still held a coating of frost which the sunlight had not been warm enough to melt.

“We’ll tell them how beautiful it looked when we get home,” said Dorothy, her eyes bright with delight.

“It will take two of us to even half tell it,” laughed Nancy.

And while Dorothy and Nancy were gliding rapidly over the frosty highway, Arabella was standing at Patricia’s door, ringing the bell, and wondering why no one replied.  Then some one came around the corner.

“Hello!” she cried.  “Ma’s gone to spend the afternoon with a friend, and I’ve just been out to see about our sleigh, so nobody heard you ring.  The sleigh’ll be here in just a minute; you come up with me and help me bring down some shawls.”