Bath. Dorothy Calvert, whom I
still hated, saved my life--while she might have lost her own. What I
have suffered since, knowing this and how bravely she had borne all my
hatefulness and had sacrificed herself for me--You must guess that. I
can't tell it. But last night I made myself beg her pardon in private
as I now beg it before you all. May I yet have the chance to do to her
as she has done to me! Dorothy Calvert--will you forgive me?"

CHAPTER XI

WHAT CAME WITH THE SNOW AND ICE

After that memorable week of Hallowe'en, affairs at Oak Knowe settled
into their ordinary smooth running. That week had brought to all the
school a surfeit of excitement so that all were glad of quiet and
peace.

"The classes have never made such even, rapid progress before, in all
the years I've been here;" said the Lady Principal to the good Bishop.
"Things are almost ominously quiet and I almost dread to have
Christmas time approach. All the young ladies get more interested then
in gift-preparing and anticipations of vacations at home than in
school routine. I hate to have that interrupted so soon again."

The Bishop laughed.

"My dear Miss Muriel, you take life too seriously. Upheavals are good
for us. Our lives would grow stagnant without them."

"Beg pardon, but I can't fancy affairs at Oak Knowe ever being
stagnant! Nor do I see, as you seem to, any fine results from the
happenings of Hallow week. One of the ill results is--I cannot find a
competent boot-boy. That makes you smile again, but I assure you it is
no trifle in a large establishment like this, with it the rule that
every pupil must walk the muddy road each day. The maids will do the
work, of course, but they grumble. I do wish the ground would freeze
or some good boy offer his services."

A rattling of the window panes and a sound of rising wind sent the
Bishop to the window:

"Well, Miss Tross-Kingdon, one of your wishes is already coming true.
There's a blizzard coming--surely. Flakes are already falling and I'm
glad the double sashes are in place on this north side the building,
and that Michael has seen to having the toboggan slide put in order.
I prophesy that within a few days all the young folks will be
tobogganing at a glorious rate. That's one of the things I'm thankful
for--having been born in Canada where I could slide with the best!"

He turned about and the lady smiled at his boyish enthusiasm. He was a
man who never felt old, despite hi