six years," said the Terror icily; and the last of the coins went into
the bag.

Mr. Barker held out a quivering hand, and with an air and in a tone of
warm geniality he cried: "Oh, that alters the case altogether! In the
case of the son of an old customer like Mrs. Dangerfield we're
delighted to deduct five per cent. discount for cash--delighted. Make
out the bill for three pounds, Miss Perkins."

Miss Perkins made out the bill for three pounds; and Erebus bore away
the stole tenderly.

As the triumphant Terror came out of the shop, he jingled the brave
three shillings discount in his pocket and said: "Now for Springer's!"

CHAPTER VII

AND PRINGLE'S POND

Mrs. Dangerfield was indeed delighted with the stole, for she had an
almost extravagant fondness for furs; and it was long since she had had
any. She wondered how the Twins had saved and collected the money it
had cost; she knew that it had not been drawn from the cats' home fund,
since the Terror had promised her that none of that money should be
diverted from its proper purpose; and she was the more grateful to them
for the thought and labor they must have devoted to acquiring it. On
the whole she thought it wiser not to inquire how the money had been
raised.

The Twins, as always, enjoyed an exceedingly pleasant Christmas. It
was the one week in the year when Little Deeping flung off its quietude
and gently rollicked. There was a dearth of children, young men and
maidens among their Little Deeping friends; and the Twins and Wiggins
were in request as the lighter element in the Christmas gatherings.
Thanks to the Terror, the three of them took this brightening function
with considerable seriousness: each of them learned by heart a humorous
piece of literature, generally verse, for reciting; and they performed
two charades in a very painstaking fashion. They had but little
dramatic talent; but they derived a certain grave satisfaction from the
discharge of this enlivening social duty; and their efforts were always
well received.

It was, as usual, a green and muggy Christmas. The weather broke about
the middle of January; and there came hard frosts and a heavy
snow-storm. The Twins made a glorious forty-foot slide on the common
in front of Colet House; and they constructed also an excellent
toboggan on which they rushed down the hill into the village street.
These were but light pleasures. They watched the ponds with the most
careful inter