's arms. "Just look at me, Dolly
Doodles! Just see how nice and thin I am! Why I'm a feather's weight
to Flo, and I'm one of the best tobogganers at Oak Knowe. Sure. Ask
Mrs. Archibald herself, for here she comes all ready for her share of
the fun!"

"Yes, yes, lassie, you're a fair one at the sport now and give some
promise o' winning the cup yet!" answered the matron, joining the
girls and looking as fit and full of life as any of them.

"Hear! Hear! Hurrah for 'Nesta! Three cheers for the champion cup
winner!"

"And three times three for the girl Dolly chooses to share her first
slide on the new toboggan!" cried somebody, while a dozen laughing
faces were thrust forward and as many hands tapped on the breasts of
the pleaders, signifying: "Choose me!"

The Bishop was already on hand, looking almost a giant in his
mufflers, and as full of glee as the youngest there. The lady
Principal, in her furs, had also joined the group, for though she did
not try the slides, she loved to watch the enjoyment of the others,
from a warm seat beside the bonfire.

While Dorothy hesitated in her choice, looking from one to another of
the merry, pleading faces about her, Gwendolyn Borst-Kennard stood a
little apart, watching with keen interest the little scene before her,
while the elder members of the group also exchanged some interested
glances.

"Count us! Count us! That's fair! Begin: 'Intry, mintry, outry, corn;
wire, brier, apple, thorn. Roly, poly, dimble-dee;--O--U--T spells Out
goes SHE!'"

Over and over, they laughingly repeated the nonsense-jingle, each girl
whom the final "she" designated stepping meekly back with pretended
chagrin, while the "counting out" went on without her. The game
promised to be so long that the matron begged:

"Do settle it soon, young ladies! We're wasting precious time."

Dorothy laughed and still undecided, happened to glance toward
Gwendolyn, who had made no appeal for preference, and called out:

"Gwen, dear, will you give me my first lesson? I choose Gwendolyn!"

It was good to see the flush of happiness steal into Gwen's face and
to see the smile she flashed toward Dorothy. Stepping forward she
said:

"Thank you, dear. I do appreciate this in you, and you needn't be
afraid. The Lady Principal knows I can manage a toboggan fairly well,
and this of yours seems to be an exact copy of my own that I've used
so long."

Other cheers followed this and in a moment the whole party had sp