“Even that we hope to make right,” replied the major.  “I have sent for Miss Pumfret, and expect she may arrive at The Cedars to-night.”

“Good!” exclaimed Tavia, with what might be termed “unholy glee.”  “Just let me introduce myself!” and she made a pretense of showing her muscle.

“There’s the surrey,” announced Dorothy, as Nat drove up.  “We walked down, it was so delightful in the snow.  But Aunt Winnie insisted we should not take out the big sleigh.  She says the horses are always so skittish when first put to the cutter, and she was afraid of some other accident.”

Major Dale exchanged some words with old Abe before stepping into the vehicle that served in place of the Fire Bird.

“The eight o’clock train,” Dorothy overheard her father say.  “And be sure to have the light buggy.”

“She’s coming on the eight,” whispered Tavia to Nat.  “What do you say if we waylay them and give her a snow bath to cool her off?  I’d just like to sail into that lady.”

Nat did not reply—­the major was now in the surrey, and the little horse started off at a lively trot.

Numbers of cutters and sleighs passed them—­every one seemed anxious to make sure of the first sleigh-ride.

One particularly handsome rig was just approaching.

“Whew!” exclaimed Nat.  “Look at Agnes Sinclair—­and that’s Tom Scott with her.”

It was indeed Agnes and Tom, in a new cutter with waving plumes at the dashboard, and as the rig passed along, Dorothy noticed that the plumes just matched Agnes’ cheeks.

And it may as well be told now that when Agnes Sinclair and Tom Scott stopped at the post-office that very evening Tom posted a number of little notes for Agnes—­an informal tea was to be given at Ferndale.

Every single person who got one of these notes knew exactly what it meant—­the announcement of the engagement of Miss Agnes Sinclair to Thomas Dudley Scott.

Of course, Dorothy and Tavia were invited, and the card of Agnes’ mother came with that of the daughter.  Mrs. Sinclair and Mrs. White were close friends.

“I have been wondering why Mrs. Sinclair had not called to see Ned,” commented Mrs. White when Dorothy handed her the cards.  “This explains it, of course.  Dorothy, what did I tell you?  See how well trained my eyes are.”

“But when Agnes showed plainly she wanted to pose with Ned,” argued Dorothy, “that was—­”

“Just to throw you off the scent, of course,” finished Mrs. White.  “Well, I am glad we are going to have an engagement for the holidays.  It will make a little round of gaieties for the young folks.  Dorothy, you may give Agnes her first shower.”

“And make it something good to eat,” suggested Nat.  “No fun in giving a girl a lot of drygoods—­make it ice-cream.”

Ned was recovering rapidly, and he too joined in suggesting plans for the “handing around of Agnes.”  He insisted it was up to him and Nat to give Tom a sendoff, and finally did obtain Mrs. White’s permission to give a bachelor dinner in the coach house.  They wanted the affair given where there would be no objection to either noise or “muss,” as Nat put it, so the coach house was decided upon.