scuss it at the breakfast table: but
now we will have our reading together."

At that very time Capt. Raymond and Violet in her boudoir at Woodburn,
were also discussing the state of the roads and the advisability of
dispensing with school duties for the day that all the family might
enjoy the rather rare treat of a sleigh-ride.

"You would enjoy it, my love?" he said inquiringly.

"Very much--in company with my husband and the children," she returned;
"yet I would not wish to influence you to decide against your
convictions in regard to what is right and wise."

"We will go," he said, smiling fondly upon her, "I can not bear to have
you miss the pleasure; nor the children either for that matter, though I
am a little afraid I might justly be deemed weakly indulgent in
according them a holiday again so soon: it is against my principles to
allow lessons to be set aside for other than very weighty reasons; it is
a matter of so great importance that they be trained to put duties
first, giving pleasure a secondary place."

"But they are so good and industrious," said Violet, "and the sleighing
is not likely to last long. It seldom does with us."

"And they have been so closely confined to the house of late, by the
inclemency of the weather," he added. "Yes: they shall go; for it will
do them a great deal of good physically, I think, and health is, after
all, of more consequence for them than rapid advancement in their
studies."

"I should think so indeed," said Violet. "Now the next question is where
shall we go?"

"That is a question for my wife to settle," returned the captain
gallantly. "I shall be most happy to accompany her wherever she decides
that she wishes to be taken."

"Thank you, sir. I want to see mamma, of course."

"Then we will call at Ion, and perhaps may be able to persuade mother
to join us in a longer ride."

"Oh couldn't we hire an omnibus sleigh and ask them all to join us? It
would just about hold the two families."

"It is a trifle odd that the same idea had just occurred to me," he
remarked pleasantly. "I will telephone at once to the town, and if I can
engage a suitable sleigh, will call to Ion and give our invitation."

The reply from the village was satisfactory; also that from Ion, given
by Grandpa Dinsmore, who said he would venture to accept the invitation
for all the family without waiting to consult them.

The captain reported to Violet, then passed on into the apartments of