freshness! What you got to do after two o'clock to-morrow afternoon?"

"A whole lot of things. Every minute filled up."

"All right," said George. "The snow's fine for sleighing: I'll come
for you in a cutter at ten minutes after two."

"I can't possibly go."

"If you don't," he said, "I'm going to sit in the cutter in front of
the gate, wherever you're visiting, all afternoon, and if you try to
go out with anybody else he's got to whip me before he gets you." And
as she laughed--though she blushed a little, too--he continued,
seriously: "If you think I'm not in earnest you're at liberty to make
quite a big experiment!"

She laughed again. "I don't think I've often had so large a compliment
as that," she said, "especially on such short notice--and yet, I don't
think I'll go with you.

"You be ready at ten minutes after two."

"No, I won't."

"Yes, you will!"

"Yes," she said, "I will!" And her partner for the next dance
arrived, breathless with searching.

"Don't forget I've got the third from now," George called after her.