yet."

"Stupid thing; what did she jump over for? I was nearly suffocated. I am
sure there must have been a cast of me on the snow."

"It wasn't altogether unpleasant," said Jack. "We were covered up very
snug and warm, like babes in the wood. I shouldn't mind doing it again in
the same company."

"Shouldn't you?" said Bluebell, indignantly. "Then you may omit the
company." And so they went on whispering, to Mrs. Rolleston's annoyance,
till the Colonel's voice was heard bringing in a visitor--a lady of
unfashionable appearance, chiefly remarkable for the variety of knitted
articles, described in work-books as "winter comforts," displayed on her
person.

"_Ma tante_!" ejaculated Jack, incautiously; "who is this old Quiz?"

"Here is Mrs. Leigh," said Colonel Rolleston, "who says she has not seen
her daughter for three weeks. Where are you Bluebell?"

Jack felt ready to sink into the earth, while his boyish face became the
colour of a peony; and Bluebell, vexed and hurt, advanced to the maternal
embrace.

Their mutual confusion was so evident, that the Colonel put another
interpretation on it, and remarked, in a tone the reverse of
congratulatory,--"You have not been long getting out of harness,
Vavasour."