e as sliding down a hill, where a body can stop and step off any
time. You can't step off a toboggan, unless you want to get killed."

Dorothy was frightened and surprised, and quickly asked:

"How can anybody call that 'sport' which is as dangerous as that? What
do you mean? I reckon I won't go. I'll just watch you."

It was Winifred's turn to stare, but she was also disappointed.

"Oh! you little 'Fraid-Cat,' I thought you were never afraid of
anything. That's why I liked you. One why--and there are other
whys--but don't you back out in this. Don't you dare. When you've got
that be-a-u-tiful rig and a be-a-u-tiful toboggan to match. I'd hate
to blush for you, Queen Baltimore!"

"I have no toboggan, Winnie, dear. You know that. I was wondering
who'd take me on theirs--if--if I try it at all."

Winifred rushed to the other side of the porch and came flying back,
carrying over her head a toboggan, so light and finely polished that
it shone; also a lovely cushion of pink and white dragged from one
hand. This fitted the flat bottom of the sled and was held in place,
when used, by silver catches. The whole toboggan was of this one
polished board, curving upward in front according to the most approved
form, pink tassels floating from its corners that pink silk cords held
in their place. Across this curving front was stenciled in pink:
"Dorothy Calvert."

"There, girlie, what do you say to that? Isn't it marked plainly
enough? Didn't you know about it before? Why all we girls have been
just wild with envy of you, ever since we saw it among the others."

Dorothy almost caught her breath. It certainly was a beauty, that
toboggan! But how came she to have it?

"What do you mean, Winifred Christie? Do you suppose the Bishop has
had it made, or bought it, for me? Looks as if it had cost a lot. And
Aunt Betty has lost so much money she can't afford to pay for extra
things--not very high ones--"

"Quit borrowing trouble, Queenie! Who cares where it came from or how
much it cost? Here it is with your own name on it and if you're too
big a goose to use it, I shall just borrow it myself. So there you
are. There isn't a girl here but wouldn't be glad to have first ride
on it. Am I invited?" and Winifred poked a saucy face under her
friend's hood.

"Am I?" asked Florita Sheraton, coaxingly throwing her arms around
Dolly.

"Oh! get away, Flo! You're too big! You'd split the thing in two!"
said Ernesta, pulling away her chum