ing
Patty about, but she shan't be teased. If she wants to keep her big
blue letter to herself, she's going to keep it, that's all."

"Of course I shall," said Patty, saucily. "That is, I should, if I had
any big blue letter, but I haven't."

"Never mind big blue letters," said Roger, "let's all go out and play
in the snow."

So everybody put on wraps and caps and furs and out they went like a
parcel of children to frolic in the snow. Snow-balling was a matter of
course, but nobody minded a lump of soft snow, and soon they began to
build the snow-man.

He turned out to be a marvel of art and architecture, and as his
heroic proportions were far too great for anybody's hat or coat, they
draped an Indian blanket around him and stuck a Japanese parasol on
the top of his head to protect him from the sun.

Roger insisted on the cigarette, and as the snow gentleman had been
provided with a fine set of orange-peel teeth, he held his cigarette
jauntily and firmly.

"I want to go coasting," said Patty.

"And so you shall," said Jim. "I sent for a lot of sleds from the
village, and I think they've arrived."

Sure enough, there were half a dozen new sleds ready for them, and
snatching the ropes, with glee, they dragged them to a nearby hill.

It was a long, easy slope, just right for coasting.

"Want to be pioneer?" asked Roger of Patty. And ever-ready Patty
tucked herself on to a sled, grasped the rope, Roger gave her a push,
and she was half-way down the hill before any one knew she had
started. The rest followed, and soon the whole party stood laughing at
the bottom of the long hill.

"The worst is walking up again," said Patty, looking back up the hill.

"Do you say that because it's what everybody says,--or because you're
lazy?" asked Philip.

"Because I'm lazy," returned Patty, promptly.

"Then get on your sled, and I'll pull you up."

"No, I'm not lazy enough for that, I hope! But I'll tell you what I'll
do; I'll race you up."

"Huh! as if I couldn't beat you up, and not half try!"

"Oh, I don't _know_! Come on, now, do your best! One, two, three, go!"

Each pulling a sled, they started to run uphill; at least, Philip
started to run, and at a good rate; but Patty walked,--briskly and
evenly, knowing full well that Philip could not keep up his gait.

And she was right. Half-way up the hill, Philip was forced to slow
down, and panting and puffing,--for he was a big man,--he turned to
look for Patty. Sh