ow had
been continually on the ground, but not deep enough to be in any way an
inconvenience; yet Nono was not satisfied. At last the light flakes
had fallen slowly for several days, and then the paths about the
cottage were cut out sharply, as from the solid rock.

Nono's face wore an expression of musing satisfaction. He seemed now
in a mood for play. Thor and Sven were delighted when they heard him
ask their mother's permission to build in his spare time a snow-house
after a plan he had in his mind, and if it might stand in the open
space between the cottage and the gate. Karin was pleased to see Nono
looking so happy, and promptly granted his request.

Nono found no difficulty in getting the other boys to act under his
direction, as they had great confidence in his architectural abilities.
With such willing hands the work went on cheerily, and with wonderful
rapidity. Block after block was put in its place, and the surface most
skilfully smoothed and hardened.

After all, it only looked like a watch-house when it was done, Jan
said, and he was right. There was much playing sentinel among the
children, as they stood on guard, being relieved at stated intervals,
even Decima being allowed to share in the fun. This kind of frolic
came to an end when Nono, with Karin's leave, had smeared the arched
interior with a dismal pasty composition from the refuse of the
coal-cellar at Ekero.

Nono now ventured to ask Karin to lend him a sheet to hang for a few
days before the opening of the watch-house, as the structure was
familiarly called in the family. Sven and Thor gave each other
significant punches as the request was granted, to signify that no
sheet would have been loaned to them; which was no doubt a fact, as
they were not much to be relied on for discretion or care-taking.

Now began the erection of something within the snow-house, which Nono
alone was allowed to touch. The so-called "little boys" were of the
opinion that Nono was making the stump of a crooked old tree; but Oke,
who considered himself an authority in the family as to matters
literary and artistic, declared his opinion that Nono was making a
model of the leaning tower of Pisa, of which he spoke as familiarly as
if he had seen it personally in his travels. To the disappointment of
Decima and her brothers, they were soon all shut out from the scene of
Nono's labours; and he asked them so kindly not even to peep behind the
white curtain, tha