Eunice turned, and ran back upstairs. “Minnie! Min!” she called on her way. “Dan's engagement's off.” “I don't believe it!” answered Minnie's voice joyously, from within some room. It was followed by her presence, with successive inquiries. “How do you know? Did you get a letter? When did it happen? Oh, isn't it too good?” Minnie was also dressed for the verandah promenade, which they always took when the snow was too deep. She caught sight of her brother as she came down. “Why, Dan's here! Dan, I've been thinking about you all day.” She kissed him, which Eunice was now reminded to do too. “Yes, it's true, Minnie,” said Dan gravely. “I came up to tell you. It don't seem to distress you much.” “Dan!” said his sister reproachfully. “You know I didn't mean to say anything I only felt so glad to have you back again.” “I understand, Minnie--I don't blame you. It's all right. How's mother? Father up from the works yet? I'm going to my room.” “Indeed you're not!” cried Eunice, with elder sisterly authority. “You shall tell us about it first.” “Oh no! Let him go, Eunice!” pleaded Minnie, “Poor Dan! And I don't think we ought to go to walk when--” Dan's eyes dimmed, and his voice weakened a little at her sympathy. “Yes, go. I'm tired--that's all. There isn't anything to tell you, hardly. Miss Pasmer--” “Why, he's pale!” cried Minnie. “Eunice!” “Oh, it's just the heat in here.” Dan really felt a little sick and faint with it, but he was not sorry to seem affected by the day's strain upon his nerves. The girls began to take off their wraps. “Don't. I'll go with you. Boardman's out there.” “Boardman! What nonsense!” exclaimed Eunice. “He'll like to hear your opinion of it,” Dan began; but his sister pulled the doors open, and ran out to see if he really meant that too. Whether Boardman had heard her, or had discreetly withdrawn out of earshot at the first sound of voices, she could not tell, but she found him some distance away from the snow-box on the piazza. “Dan's just managed to tell us you were here,” she said, giving him her hand. “I'm glad to see you. Do come in.” “Come along as a sort of Job's comforter,” Boardman explained, as he followed her in; and he had the silly look that the man who feels himself superfluous must wear. “Then you know about it?” said Eunice, while Minnie Mavering and he were shaking hands. “Yes, Boardman knows; he can tell you about it,” said Dan, from the hall chair he had dropped into. He rose and made his way to the stairs, with the effect of leaving the whole thing to them. His sisters ran after him, and got him upstairs and into his room, with Boardman's semi-satirical connivance, and Eunice put up the window, while Minnie went to get some cologne to wet his forehead. Their efforts were so successful that he revived sufficiently to drive them out of his room, and make them go and show Boardman to his.