Two and two, in a certain grace of order, the little party came out from the shore into the moonlight. The women's faces looked white and waxen against their rich furs, and the moonbeams sparkled on their ornaments. A very pretty sight is a moonlight skating party, and Pocock Vancouver knew what he was saying when he hinted at the mysterious and romantic influences that are likely to be abroad on such occasions. Indeed, it was not long before young Hannibal was sliding away hand in hand with Miss St. Joseph at a pace that did not invite competition. And Mr. Topeka decided which of the Aitchison girls he preferred, and gave her his arm, so that the other fell to the lot of Sam Wyndham, while Mrs. Sam and Sybil Brandon came out escorted by Vancouver, who noticed with some dismay that the party was "a man short." The moment he saw Joe talking to the solitary skater, he knew that the latter must be Harrington, who had gone to Cambridge and come across. John bowed to every one and shook hands with Mrs. Wyndham. Joe eluded Vancouver and put her arm through Sybil's, as though to take possession of her. Joe would have been well enough pleased at first to have been left with John, but the sight of Vancouver somehow reminded her of the compact she had made in the morning with Sybil, and in a few moments the two girls were away together, talking so persistently to each other that Vancouver, who at first followed them and tried to join their conversation, was fain to understand that he was not wanted, so that he returned to Mrs. Wyndham. "I want so much to talk to you," Joe began, when they were alone. "Yes, dear?" said Sybil half interrogatively, as they moved along. "We can talk here charmingly, unless Mr. Vancouver comes after us again. But you do skate beautifully, you know. I had no idea you could." "Oh, I told you I could do everything," said Joe, with some pride. "Where _did_ you get that beautiful fur, my dear? It is magnificent. You are just like the Snow Angel now." "In Russia. Everybody wears white fur there, you know. We were in St. Petersburg some time." "I know. We cannot get it in England. If one could I would have told Ronald to bring me some when he comes." "Who is Ronald?" asked Sybil innocently. "Oh, he is the dearest boy," said Joe, with a little sigh, "but I do so wish he were not coming!" "Because he has not got the white fur?" suggested Sybil. "Oh no! But because"--Joe lowered her voice and spoke demurely, at the same time linking her arm more closely in Sybil's. "You see, dear, he wants to marry me, and I am afraid he is coming to say so." "And you do not want to marry him? Is that it?" Joe's small mouth closed tightly, and she merely nodded her head gravely, looking straight before her. Sybil pressed her arm sympathetically and was silent, expecting more. "It was such a long time ago, you see," said Joe, after a while. "I was not out when it was arranged, and it seemed so natural. But now--it is quite different."