“I would have welcomed even a collision if some one only had to walk back home my way,” said Tavia.  “But to be put off a train at such a place!  Why, I just made a bolt for the first black speck I could see with a light in it.  It turned out to be a farmhouse, and I simply told the man he must hitch up and drive me here.”

“What was the name of the place?” asked the major.

“Oh, something like Gransville, or Grahamsville.  I wasn’t particular about remembering the name, major; I really hoped I would forget it.”

“Do you mean to say you rode from Gransville in a cart?  And we have let the man go away without giving him a warm drink or anything!  Why, Ned, call up the stable and see if John can catch the fellow; he may not be out on the road yet,” and at the major’s order the three boys hurried to overtake the man, Roger and Joe wrapping quickly in their warm coats and running out toward the drive, while Ned ’phoned the stable for John to stop the cart if he could do so.

This interruption left Dorothy and Mrs. White with Tavia, for the major, too, had left the room, and presently, when Tavia had “thawed out” sufficiently to move about, she went with Dorothy to the alcove room, one of the twin guest chambers in the suite always given Dorothy and Tavia the girls were at The Cedars.

“My, how like Christmas you look already!” exclaimed Tavia as she glanced about at the table of packages, and at another table of things that were to be in packages.

“Isn’t it time?” asked Dorothy, getting out one of her own pretty robes for Tavia.  “Why? it is only ten days off.”

“Please, Doro, dear, don’t be exact.  It makes me think of work—­school is still in existence, I believe.  Had a letter from ‘Ned’ the other day, and the old place hasn’t burned down, or anything.”

“From Edna?  How are they all?” and Dorothy helped Tavia into her house garments.

“Able to sit up,” answered Tavia facetiously.  “Cologne is pining for you, I believe.”

“I did hope Rose-Mary could come over for the holidays, but she has written she cannot.”

“Sorry for you, Doro, dear, but I really like The Cedars all to myself.”

“And the boys?” asked Dorothy archly.

“Well, if you like, I’ll take the boys too.  Don’t care if I do.”  And Tavia stood before the oval mirror inspecting herself in Dorothy’s blue and white empire gown with the long sash at the side.

“What a pretty new dress you have!” remarked Dorothy as she picked up the one that Tavia had so carelessly discarded.

“Like it?  I suppose it’s all rumples and crumples after the cart.  But really, Doro, if I had had only some one to talk to, I believe I should have enjoyed it.  It was too funny!  The man had a mouth without any backstop in it—­”

“Palate?”

“Maybe that was it.  Anyhow, when he spoke the words seemed to evaporate, and you had to guess what he meant.  Likely there’s a trail of frozen words all the way from here to—­Mars.”