nt, and tears began to stand in Carry's brown eyes. When they
reached the road again, they were utterly exhausted. "Let us go back,"
said Carry.

"We'd never get across that field again," said Addy.

"Let's stop at the first house, then," said Carry.

"The first house," said Addy, peering through the gathering darkness,
"is Squire Robinson's." She darted a mischievous glance at Carry, that,
even in her discomfort and fear, brought the quick blood to her cheek.

"Oh, yes!" said Kate with gloomy irony, "certainly; stop at the squire's
by all means, and be invited to tea, and be driven home after tea by
your dear friend Mr. Harry, with a formal apology from Mrs. Robinson,
and hopes that the young ladies may be excused this time. No!" continued
Kate with sudden energy. "That may suit YOU; but I'm going back as I
came,--by the window, or not at all." Then she pounced suddenly, like a
hawk, on Carry, who was betraying a tendency to sit down on a snowbank,
and whimper, and shook her briskly. "You'll be going to sleep next.
Stay, hold your tongues, all of you,--what's that?"

It was the sound of sleigh-bells. Coming down toward them out of the
darkness was a sleigh with a single occupant. "Hold down your heads,
girls: if it's anybody that knows us, we're lost." But it was not; for a
voice strange to their ears, but withal very kindly and pleasant, asked
if its owner could be of any help to them. As they turned toward him,
they saw it was a man wrapped in a handsome sealskin cloak, wearing
a sealskin cap; his face, half concealed by a muffler of the same
material, disclosing only a pair of long mustaches, and two keen
dark eyes. "It's a son of old Santa Claus!" whispered Addy. The girls
tittered audibly as they tumbled into the sleigh: they had regained
their former spirits. "Where shall I take you?" said the stranger
quietly. There was a hurried whispering; and then Kate said boldly, "To
the Institute." They drove silently up the hill, until the long, ascetic
building loomed up before them. The stranger reined up suddenly. "You
know the way better than I," he said. "Where do you go in?"--"Through
the back-window," said Kate with sudden and appalling frankness. "I
see!" responded their strange driver quietly, and, alighting quickly,
removed the bells from the horses. "We can drive as near as you please
now," he added by way of explanation. "He certainly is a son of Santa
Claus," whispered Addy. "Hadn't we better ask after hi