ride?"

"Oh it was just lovely, papa!" answered the little girl, "the sleigh
skimmed along so nicely without a bit of jolting; and then too, it was
such fun to watch the skaters."

A tap at the door, and Rosie's voice asking, "How is Lulu? Mamma sent me
to inquire."

"Come in, Rosie," said the captain. "Mother is very kind, and I am glad
to be able to report to her that Lulu is only very slightly hurt; so
slightly that doubtless she will be ready to join her mates in any sport
that may be going on this afternoon."

Rosie drew near with a look of commiseration on her face, but exclaimed
in surprise, "Why, your hand isn't even bound up!"

"No; I have just a patch of court plaster on each of three finger tips,"
returned Lulu, laughingly displaying them.

"But oh what a narrow escape!" cried Rosie half breathlessly. "It fairly
frightens me to think of it!"

"They'd all have been cut off if it hadn't been for papa," Lulu said
with a shudder, hiding her face on his shoulder.

"O Lu, I'm so glad they weren't!" said Rosie. "Eva has been crying fit
to break her heart because she was sure that at least the tips of your
fingers had been taken off; and in fact I couldn't help crying myself,"
she added, turning away to wipe her eyes.