“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 passed 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 Fanny.

“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 muffled 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.”

“Oh, no matter; hurry, or they won’t wait for us.  It won’t hurt to be dressed in this rig for a short time,” and Dexie hurriedly buttoned the big coat around her, and pulled a fur cap down over her ears, completely concealing her identity.

“My muff and furs are upstairs somewhere.  Mamma put them away.”

“This will keep your neck warm,” and Dexie snatched a fancy woollen afagan from the back of a chair, and wrapped it around Nina’s neck.  “Put your hands up your sleeves, and you will never miss your muff,” and she hurried her double out on the sidewalk.