ar, I make no doubt," remarked
Mr. Dinsmore, giving the child a kindly look and smile. "Capt. Raymond
and I have had a little chat through the telephone this morning. He
invites us all to join the Woodburn family in a sleigh-ride, he is
coming for us in an omnibus sleigh; and I accepted for each and every
one of you."

Zoe, Rosie and Walter uttered a simultaneous exclamation of delight,
while the others looked well pleased with the arrangement.

"At what hour are we to expect the captain?" asked Mrs. Dinsmore.

"About ten."

"And where does he propose to take us?" inquired Zoe.

"I presume wherever the ladies of the party decide that they would like
to go."

"Surely, papa, the gentlemen also should have a voice in that," his
daughter said, sending him a bright, affectionate look from behind the
coffee-urn, "you at least, in case the question is put to vote."

"Not I more than the rest of you," he returned pleasantly. "But I have
no doubt we would all enjoy the ride in any direction where the
sleighing is good."

"I think it will prove fine on all the roads," remarked Edward, "and I
presume everybody, would enjoy driving over to Fairview, the Laurels and
the Oaks to call on our nearest relatives; perhaps to the Pines and
Roselands also, to see the cousins there."

"That would be nice," said Zoe, "but don't you suppose they may be
improving the sleighing opportunity as well as ourselves? may be driving
over here to call on us?"

"Then, when we meet, the question will be who shall turn round and go
back, and who keep on," laughed Rosie.

"But to avoid such an unpleasant state of affairs we have only to ask
and, answer a few questions through the telephone," said Edward.

"Certainly," said his grandfather, "and we'll attend to it the first
thing on leaving the table."

Everybody was interested, and presently all were gathered about the
telephone, while Edward, acting as spokesman of the party, called to
first one and then another of the households nearly related to
themselves.

The answers came promptly, and it was soon evident that all were
intending to avail themselves of the somewhat rare opportunity offered
by the snow and ice covered roads, none planning to stay at home to
receive calls. They would all visit Ion if the ladies there were likely
to be in.

"Tell them," said Grandma Elsie, "to take their drives this morning,
come to Ion in time for dinner, and spend the rest of the day and
evening her