"I see," said the teacher, quietly. "And where is Miss Cameron?"

"She has gone on with Bob Steele and his sister," explained Tom, seeing
instantly that all was not right. "You see, some of us fellows got
permission to come over here to Triton Lake to-day. Mr. Hargreaves,
one of our tutors, is with us."

"I know Mr. Hargreaves," said Miss Reynolds. "But I had no
warning--nor had Mrs. Tellingham, I believe--that any of the young
gentlemen from Major Parradel's school were to be here."

"Well, it will make it all the nicer, I am sure," Tom suggested, with
his winning smile. "We'll all--all us fellows, I mean--try to behave
our prettiest, Miss Reynolds."

"Undoubtedly you will be on your good behavior," said the teacher,
drily.

But Tom and Ruth could not hurry on ahead now. Miss Reynolds walked
sedately with them down to the landing. By that time Mary Cox and most
of the Upedes were on the ice--and they were joined by all the boys but
Tom. The Fox had laid her plans well.

Mr. Hargreaves skated back to shake hands with Miss Reynolds. "This is
a surprise," he said. "I am sure I did not expect to find you and your
young ladies here, Miss Reynolds."

"Are you sure that the meeting is _quite_ unexpected by both parties?"
she returned, with a grave smile. "If we are surprised, Mr.
Hargreaves, I fancy that our young charges may have been rather better
informed in advance than we were."

The gentleman shrugged his shoulders. "I give that up!" he said. "It
may be. I see you have your hands full here. Shall I take my--er--my
remaining young man away with me?" he asked, looking aside at Tom, who
was already fastening Ruth's skates.

"Oh, no," said Miss Reynolds, grimly. "I'll make use of him!"

And she most certainly did. Tom was anxious to get Ruth away at once
so that they could catch up with the foremost skaters; but he could not
refuse to aid her teacher. And then there were others of the girls to
help. They were all on the ice before Master Tom could get his own
skates on.

Then there was a basket to carry, and of course Tom could not see the
teacher or one of the girls carry it. He took it manfully. Then Miss
Reynolds gave Ruth her hand and skated with her, and Master Tom was
fain to skate upon Ruth's other hand. And so they went on slowly,
while the lively crowd ahead drew farther and farther away. It was not
an unpleasant journey out across the smooth lake, however, and perhaps
the part