“I wish you were going, Arthur,” she said.  “But, at least, you’ll escape one trial; you won’t have to hold me up.”

“I believe I could stand even that,” answered Arthur wistfully.  And then because he had set himself to the task of keeping cheerful, he added, “Just wait until next winter; I’ll get up a special skating-party for you, and whiz you over the ice at a great rate.”

“I hope by that time I’ll be able to whiz a little by myself.  Just now I can only wabble and squeal.  Oh, I must hurry, for there’s the whistle,” and with a gay good-bye Ruth flew out of the house.

Arthur went slowly over to the window to watch the jolly crowd out of sight.  Then he went back to his book and began reading with an unconscious sigh which made his mother and father look at each other with troubled eyes.

As they neared the pond with its twinkling bonfires, it seemed to Ruth there would be small chance for an inexperienced skater in the midst of the many dark figures which were gliding in every direction.  She felt better about it, however, when she found Philip taking possession of her to put on her skates, and then starting off at a slow, steady glide which at once gave her confidence.  She had almost begun to feel that she could really skate, when Frank came up and took her for a mad dash around the pond at a pace that fairly made her tremble.  She was glad to get back once more to the little inlet which the club had chosen for its meeting-place, and where on the bank they had built their bonfire.  Joe and Charlotte skated along at about the same moment, and Ruth was secretly glad to have Joe claim her as his next partner.

“You’re doing wonders, my dear,” said pretty Mrs. Ellsworth, as Ruth came back to the meeting-place after her comfortable spin with Joe.  “Here’s Jack waiting to take you out as soon as you are rested, and I’ll get Joe to help me find my husband.”

Jack was a fine skater, and Ruth felt so encouraged by her last attempt that she really enjoyed her skate with him and began to long to do something by herself.  As they came back after circling the pond, she said earnestly, “Now you go and have a skate with some one who knows how.  I want to rest a minute, and try all by myself in this inlet, where I shall be out of the way.”

Jack refused at first to leave her alone, but she insisted, and as Betty went by at that moment he was off in pursuit before he fairly realized what he was doing.  He quieted his own conscience and Betty’s protests by promising to find Bert and send him back to Ruth immediately.

Left to herself, Ruth started out, very timidly at first and very unevenly.  Finding herself still on her feet she gained confidence and struck out more boldly.  The inlet seemed altogether too small, and she skated out a little way, still keeping near the shore and well out of the track of the skaters.