Part 19 (2/2)

”Oh! yes, mother,” cried Dolly and Ralph together. ”May we go on the ice?”

”Well, it is just because I said you might, that I feel a little anxious,” said Mrs. Ferrars, stroking Dolly's fair hair. ”My Dolly sometimes forgets mother's wishes for her own; still, as it is the last day at home, I feel inclined to trust you.”

”Of course, mother,” said Ralph confidently, ”I'll take care of Dolly; all the boys will be there, and heaps of people we know.”

”You won't skate beyond the point?” said mother; ”never mind if the others do or not; remember you are both on your honor.”

Full of delight, the children bounded off, skates in hand, and soon arrived at the gay scene by the frozen lake. The ice was already crowded with skaters, big and little, and Ralph and Dolly espied two or three of their friends as busy as themselves fastening on skates.

The band played, the sun shone, and merry voices and laughter echoed through the frosty air.

”Let's have races!” cried Frank, one of Ralph's schoolfellows. ”You take your sister, I'll take mine.”

They all four flew across the ice, backwards and forwards again and again, Frank and his sister winning at every turn.

”Now change partners,” said Frank, pairing off with Dolly, ”perhaps that will be fairer.”

”I'm rather tired of going over the same road,” said Dolly presently, as she and Frank stood resting, while the other two ran a short race by themselves. ”It looks so lovely out there. A broad sheet of ice without any one on it, and all the trees at the foot of the terrace bending over the lake. See, Frank, icicles are hanging from every twig; wouldn't you like to go close to them?”

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ring Happy Bells Across the Snow]

”Perhaps it isn't safe,” replied Frank. ”No one seems to venture so far; I shouldn't wonder if the ice were thin.”

”But our weight would be nothing on such a great s.p.a.ce,” urged Dolly. ”I don't mean far off, only just beyond the point.”

Mother's words came back to her, but mother did not know. She was not there to see how beautiful it all was, and of course Dolly did not mean to run into danger.

They began skating near the point. Again Dolly turned towards the terrace.

”Oh, Frank! I must,” she said. ”I see a long icicle like a sword with a hilt; it's on a low branch--you can reach it for me.” She sped away, and Frank followed. In a moment they were side by side, and close to the coveted icicle. As Frank raised himself to grasp it, he saw a thin stream of water welling up from beneath the ice on to the bank. He seized Dolly's hand. ”Back, back!” he cried wildly. ”The ice is giving, we shall go in.” Away they fled. The ice creaked, but their weight was light, and once more the point was gained in safety.

”Dolly,” said Ralph, hurrying up to his sister, ”have you forgotten what mother said?”

”No,” replied Dolly, trying to laugh, though really ready to cry after the fright she had undergone; ”but mother isn't here to see the icicles.

I wanted one for her, and--”

”We are on our honor,” said Ralph, ”and I trusted you too, when you went off with Frank.”

Dolly's tears began to fall. ”I won't tell tales of you,” said Ralph.

”Perhaps I am partly to blame, I ought not to have left you. Come and skate with me, now.”

”I don't want to. I'll go home,” said Dolly.

Mother did not come back to lunch. She sent round a note to say she was staying with Lily; and by and by when she returned, her heart was so full of sorrow for the suffering child that she forgot to ask about the morning's pleasure. If Dolly was silent, mother thought it was from sympathy with herself.

The next day school began. All thoughts of skating were banished; there was a prize to be fought for, and Dolly had set her heart on winning it.

Somehow the spirit that had hitherto animated her now failed. The world seemed all out of tune. Again and again she was on the point of confessing her wrong-doing, as mother bent above her for a good-night kiss. But weeks pa.s.sed, and still the words remained unspoken. Ralph never mentioned the ice; yet Dolly fancied he had loved her less since that morning.

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