ting at the edge of the circle
for John to finish his and to come and join her. She stood well back,
so that she might not interfere with the others, and thus it was that
she was waked from her trance with an abrupt shock by the sound of two
whispering voices, seeming almost at her ear, their murmur carried so
in the chill, crystal air.

"Didn't I tell you she was a bold thing?"

"Sh! She'll hear you! She's right in front of us--only those men
between."

"No she won't, either. We're too far away. Didn't I tell you Lu's and
Ruth's friendship was for one night only? I knew well enough why Lu
asked her to come. Any one could see through that. She wants to learn
how to skate, and this was as ready a way as any to be taught, and she
jumps at the chance."

"Oh, do hush! She'll hear!"

"Don't care if she does. I don't know what your opinion is, but mine
is that it's positively brazen of her to do such things before a crowd
like this. Dragging John Gardiner into it, too! It's a disgrace!"

"Sh, please! There he comes!"

Nan pulled herself wearily forward a step or two to meet him.

"I say, what's up? What's the matter?" he demanded anxiously, looking
into her face and seeing the change it had undergone.

"Nothing! Nothing!" she reassured him quickly. "I'm tired, that's
all. And I didn't realize these people were watching us. Let's get
out of this. I hate the way they stare. I want to go home."

John took her by the elbow and steered for the bank.

"Won't you find Grace and Louie first? You came with them, didn't you?
They won't know what's become of you."

"I don't care! I want to go home!" she repeated irritably.

They sped forward silently, and in a moment had reached the shore. Nan
trembled so as she tried to unfasten her skates that John pushed her
hands aside and made her submit to having him assist her.

"You've caught cold!" he said remorsefully, "I was a brute to keep
urging you on. But I didn't dream you were tired. You looked so
bright and well."

"I'm not tired. I haven't caught cold!" said Nan. "Don't bother about
me, please. Go back and finish up your skate!"

"Thank you kindly, ma'am," rejoined he, removing his own skates. "But
I've finished it up already," and he grasped her arm and tramped her
off in the direction of the Park entrance with vigorous steps.

"Won't Lou and Ruth wonder?" he ventured again after a moment of
silence.

"No! They don't care!" cried N