Part 47 (1/2)
Don't drive straight home; let us have our drive without changing the sleigh,” she added, in a low voice.
”No, I want you alone; there is too much room here to please me,” he replied, with a smile.
”Oh! stop a minute, Lancy,” cried Elsie, a moment later. ”There is Maud Harrington and f.a.n.n.y Beverly; I want to speak to them. Do ask them to come for a drive.”
”Elsie, are you crazy?--in this sleigh? Good evening, ladies” (this to the laughing girls on the sidewalk). ”I am delivering some lively freight, you see. Don't you admire my turnout?”
”Yes; it is superb. May we get on board?”
”Well, if you would care to--I don't mind,” was the hesitating reply; ”but I have nothing but boards for seats, you know.”
”Oh! no matter. The first sleigh-drive of the season is always the most enjoyable, no matter what sort of a sleigh carries you along.”
Lancy soon had them seated as comfortably as circ.u.mstances would permit, and they drove off with many expressions of delight.
”Turn up Spring Garden Road, Lancy,” said Hugh, entering into the spirit of the fun; ”perhaps we will meet another friend or two who would enjoy a spin.”
Presently they came up with Fred Beverly and May Deblois, as they were stepping briskly along the sidewalk, who started in surprise as the sleigh drove up and they recognized the occupants.
”Will you have a drive?” was Lancy's greeting.
”Most willingly,” replied Fred, laughing. ”Really, this is kind of you, Gurney, to give your friends a drive on the first snow.”
”Oh! you need not give _me_ any credit, for you had better believe I never intended to form a sleighing party when I started out with _this_ team.”
”Unexpected blessings thankfully received,” said Fred, laughing. ”The going is fine, but it won't last long, unfortunately.”
On they went, their merry laughter chiming with the jingling of the sleigh bells, and more than one person turned to look after them with a feeling of envy.
”Oh! that was Mrs. Gordon we just pa.s.sed at the corner,” said Elsie, in a whisper. ”How horrified she would be if she knew who we were!”
”Do let us call for Nina,” said Dexie; ”there is room for one more, and I'm sure she would enjoy it.”
”But she would not consider it 'the correct thing,'” said Fred, with a laugh, ”so you would have your trouble for nothing.”
”Oh, I am sure she would _love_ to come! do let me run in and ask her!” she urged, as they neared the house. ”Ten to one she will not come until her mamma comes home to tell her if it is 'the correct thing' or not,” said Fred, teasingly.
”Yes, that will be just it; she will not know what to wear for this special occasion, and it is a pity to lose a moment of this beautiful evening,”
said f.a.n.n.y.
”I'll run the risk, and stand responsible for 'the correct thing' this time,” said Dexie; ”so do let me out, Lancy. Give me three minutes, and I will return with or without her.”
Dexie had noticed Nina's wistful face in the window as they drove up, so she ran into the house without ceremony.
”Come, Nina, can you get ready to go for a drive in three minutes? Say, quick!”
”Oh, I would _love_ to go, but mamma is out, and I could not get ready so soon without her. Oh, I am so sorry!” and she looked her disappointment.
”Come along; I'll dress you in a jiffy,” and she pulled her out into the hall, and from among the clothing which hung in the cloak closet she soon had her m.u.f.fled to the ears, in spite of Nina's repeated protests that _none_ of those articles of clothing belonged to herself, but to her uncle.
”Oh, I am so afraid; indeed, I feel _sure_ mamma would say that it is not the correct thing to go like this.”