like a bird trying its wings, I'll flop about just as helplessly."

"I'm awfully glad to see you, Tom," said Grace, "I did not expect to see
you until Easter."

"Oh, I couldn't keep away," laughed Tom. "This is the jolliest place I
know."

"Good reason," said Reddy, "we are the real people."

"Stop praising yourself and listen to me," said Hippy. "Our pond has
frozen over in the most obliging manner. It's as smooth as glass. Let's go
there to skate. There's a crowd of boys and girls on it already."

The pond on the Wingate estate was really a small lake, a mile or more in
circumference. While it froze over every winter, the ice was apt to be
rough, and there were often dangerous places in it, air-holes and thin
spots where several serious accidents had occurred.

Therefore, Wingate's Pond was not used as much as the river for skating;
but this winter the ice was as smooth and solid as if it had been frozen
artificially, so the High School boys and girls could not resist the
temptation to skim over its surface.

"Isn't it a fine sight?" asked Grace, as they came in view of the skaters
who were circling and gliding over the pond, some by twos and threes,
others in long rows, laughing and shouting.

A big fire burned on the bank, rows of new-comers sat near it, fitting on
their skates.