the snow palace, and the little party went briskly on. Emily and Agnes
headed the procession, then came Effie and Grace, dragging a box-sled in
which the baby was comfortably stowed, and Kitty, the nurse, brought up
the rear, leading little Harry. The two boys met them at some distance
from the snow palace, and told them they must go through the labyrinth
before they could reach the place of entertainment.

The labyrinth was composed of paths, cut in the deep snow, winding in
and out, and circling about in all directions, till, at length, the
foremost of the party halted before the entrance to the snow palace. The
boys had, indeed, been industrious, and the new comers stared in
amazement, at the results of their labor. They found themselves, on
entering the palace, in a room high enough for the tallest of the party
to stand upright in, and of dimensions large enough to seat them all
comfortably around the square block of snow which formed the centre
table. The seats were of the same material, and were substantial enough,
while the extreme cold weather lasted. On the table was placed the
entertainment provided by Emily, to which the party did all possible
justice, considering that they had just risen from a plentiful dinner at
home. After the feast, Robert and Alfred entertained them with feats of
agility on the ice, dragging one or the other of the children after them
upon the sled, and when they returned home, even Emily's usually pale
cheeks were in a glow.

Towards evening Agnes began to be uneasy, and to watch at the window for
her aunt's return. "I will not see aunty, cousin Emily," she said, "but
I cannot go to bed till I hear how Lewie is to-night."

At length her uncle and aunt returned, and Agnes heard that her little
brother was very ill; but the doctor was of opinion that his disease was