tive order in this case, and her papa
and mamma did not object. So she eagerly answered Alexander's summons,
fastened on her skates, and soon was gliding merrily on the surface of
the Knight's Pool, while her cousins watched her dexterity with surprise
and interest; but soon Fred once more grew gloomy, sighed, groaned,
looked at his watch, and recommenced his complaints. At first she
had occupation enough in attending to her own security to bestow any
attention on other things, but in less than a quarter of an hour, she
began to feel at her ease, and her spirits rising to the pitch where
consideration is lost, she "could not help," in her own phrase, laughing
at the disconsolate Fred.

"How woebegone he looks!" said she, as she whisked past, "but never
mind, Fred, the post must go some time or other."

"It must be gone," said Fred. "I am sure we have been here above an
hour!"

"Henrietta looks blue with cold, like an old hen obliged to follow her
ducklings to the water!" observed Beatrice, again gliding near, and in
the midst of her next circular sweep she chanted--

"Although their feet are pointed, and my feet are round, Pray, is that
any reason why I should be drowned?"

It was a great aggravation of Fred's calamities to be obliged to laugh,
nor were matters mended by the sight of the party now advancing from the
house, Jessie Carey, with three of the lesser boys.

"What news of Uncle Geoffrey?"

"I did not see him," said Jessie: "I think he was in the study, Uncle
Roger went to him there."

"No hope then!" muttered the unfortunate Fred.

"Can't you skate, Fred?" asked little Arthur with a certain most
provoking face of wonder and curiosity.

"Presently," said Fred.

"He must not," cried Richard, in a tone which Fred thought malicious,
though it was only rude.

"Must not?" and Arthur looked up in amazement to the boy so much taller
than his three brothers, creatures in his eyes privileged to do what
they pleased.

"His mamma won't let him," was Dick's polite answer. Fred could have
knocked him down with the greatest satisfaction, but in the first place
he was out of reach, in the second, the young ladies were present, in
the third he was a little boy, and a stupid one, and Fred had temper
enough left to see that there would be nothing gained by quarrelling
with him, so contenting himself with a secret but most ardent wish that
he had him as his fag at school, he turned to Jessie, and asked her wh