“Hello!” cried Max, glancing back toward an intersecting road which they had just crossed, “Here they come!”

“Who?” asked several voices, while all turned their heads to see for themselves.

“The Oaks, and the Roselands folks,” answered Max, and as he spoke two large sleighs came swiftly up in the rear of their own, their occupants calling out merry greetings, and receiving a return in kind.

The wind had fallen, the cold was not intense, and they were so well protected against it by coats and robes of fur, that they scarcely felt it, and found the ride so thoroughly enjoyable that they kept it up through the whole morning, managing their return so that Ion was reached only a few minutes before the dinner hour.

Ion was a sort of headquarters for the entire connection, and everybody seemed to feel perfectly at home.  Grandma Elsie was a most hospitable hostess, and it was a very cheerful, jovial party that surrounded her well-spread table that day.

After dinner, while the older people conversed together in the parlors, the younger ones wandered at will through the house.

The girls were together in a small reception-room, chatting about such matters as particularly interested them—­their studies, sports, plans for the purchase or making of Christmas gifts, and what they hoped or desired to receive.  “I want jewelry,” said Sidney Dinsmore.  “I’d rather have that than anything else.  But it must be handsome:  a diamond pin or ring, or ear-rings.”

“Mamma says diamonds are quite unsuitable for young girls,” said Rosie.  “So I prefer pearls:  and I’m rather in hopes she may give me some for Christmas.”

“I’d rather have diamonds anyhow,” persisted Sydney.  “See Maud’s new ring, just sent her by a rich old aunt of ours.  I’m sure it looks lovely on her finger and shows off the beauty of her hand.”

“Yes, I’ve been admiring it,” said Lulu, “and I thought I’d never seen it before.”

Maud held out her hand with, evident pride and satisfaction, while the others gathered round her eager for a close inspection of the ring.

They all admired it greatly and Maud seemed gratified.

“Yes,” she said, “it certainly is a beauty, and Chess says it must be worth a good deal; that centre stone is quite large, you see, and there are six others in a circle around it.”

“I should think you’d feel very rich,” remarked Lulu; “I’d go fairly wild with delight if I had such an one given me.”

“Well then, why not give your father a hint that you’d like such a Christmas gift from him?” asked Sydney.

“I’m afraid it would cost too much,” said Lulu, “and I wouldn’t want papa to spend more on me than he could well afford.”

“Why, he could afford it well enough!” exclaimed Maud.  “Your father is very rich—­worth his millions, I heard Cousin Horace say not long ago; and he knows of course.”

Lulu looked much surprised.  “Papa never talks of how much money he has,” she said, “and I never supposed it was more than about enough to keep us comfortable; but millions means a great deal doesn’t it?”