n more than a month. If for that time he could efface himself, the
danger might blow over, and he might be left at the end of the time with
the secret of his bad name still safe at Wildtree Towers.

Kennedy's prophecy of a hard frost turned out to have been a knowing
one. All through Christmas week it continued with a severity rare even
in that mountainous region; and when on New Year's Day the report
reached Wildtree that a man had skated across the upper end of Wellmere
it was admitted to be a frost which, to the younger generation of the
place at least, "beat record."

Percy was particularly enthusiastic, and terrified his mother by
announcing that he meant to skate across Wellmere, too. Raby, though
less ambitious, was equally keen for the ice; and Scarfe, indolently
inclined as he was, was constrained to declare himself also anxious to
put on his skates.

A day was lost owing to the fact that Percy's skates, which had lain
idle for two years, were now too small for him and useless.

Mrs Rimbolt devoutly hoped the ironmonger in Overstone would have none
to fit him, and used the interval in intriguing right and left to stop
the projected expedition.

She represented to her husband that the head gardener was of opinion
that the frost had reached its height two days ago. She discovered that
Scarfe had a cold, to which exposure might be disastrous. Raby she
peremptorily forbade to dream of the ice; and as for Percy, she conjured
him by the love he bore her to skate on nothing deeper than the Rodnet
Marsh, whereat that young gentleman gibed. The Overstone ironmonger had
skates which fitted the boy to a nicety, and by way of business sent up
"on inspection" a pair which Mr Rimbolt might find useful for himself.

"You surely will not allow Percy to go?" said the lady to her husband,
on the morning after the arrival of the skates.

"Why not? He's a good skater, and we don't often have a frost."

"But on Wellmere! Think of the danger!"

"I often skated across Wellmere when I was a boy. I would not object to
do it again if I had the time to spare. I declare the sight of the
skates tempted me."

"I don't believe Mr Scarfe can swim. What would happen if there were
an accident?"

"I think you overrate the danger," said her husband; "however, if it
pleases you, I will get Jeffreys to go with them. He can swim, and I
dare say he can skate, too."

Mrs Rimbolt shied a little at the suggestion, but yielded t