quenched their thirst with
handfuls of snow. The fudge boiled over, and more than half of it was
lost in the ashes.

"It's a good thing that it did," Allison declared, tossing the empty
salmon box and a bag of peanut shells into the fire. "Ugh! The mixture
we've already eaten is enough to kill us! I think we ought to start back
home now. I'm sure that I heard the one o'clock train whistle."

But Kitty protested. They hadn't been out half long enough, she said. If
the ice on the creek had been free from snow, they would have skated for
hours, and she thought as long as that sport had been spoiled, they
ought to do something to make up for it. Gay had never gathered any
mistletoe. She thought it would be fun for them all to go around by
Stone Hollow, and get some off the big trees that grew in the
surrounding pastures.

Lloyd listened to the ready assent of the others with a sinking heart.
She had been leaning back against the rocks for some time, taking no
part in the conversation. She had grown so tired that she dreaded the
long tramp home, and had been vainly wishing that Tarbaby could suddenly
appear on the scene, or some one with a conveyance. Even a wheelbarrow
or a go-cart would have been welcome. She could not remember that she
had ever felt so exhausted before in all her life.

"But I won't be the one to hang back and spoil every one's fun," she
said to herself, "They wouldn't let me go home the shorter way by
myself. It would only break up the pah'ty if I proposed it. But I do not
see how I can evah drag myself all the way around by Stone Hollow."

At another time they might have noticed that she lagged behind, that she
had little to say, and that she looked white and tired. But Gay, her
spirits rising in the wintry air, was in her most rollicking mood. Even
Kitty had never known her to say so many funny things or to tell so many
amusing experiences. She followed on behind with Lloyd, watching
admiringly as Gay's bright face was turned first toward Malcolm, then
toward Rob, jubilant to see that her guest was captivating them as she
did every one else who fell under the charm of her vivacious manner.

Betty and Allison were on ahead with Keith, keeping a sharp lookout for
mistletoe. Lloyd scarcely heard what any one said. She plodded along
like one in a dream. It was an effort just to lift her feet. Only one
thing in life seemed desirable just then, that was her warm soft bed at
home. If she could only cree