“Snake Hill,” said Joe, shortly. He loved Dorothy; but this having girls “butting in” all the time frayed his manly patience. “Take care and don’t get hurt, boys!” called Tavia, roguishly, knowing well that the sisterly advice was on the tip of Dorothy’s tongue and that it would infuriate the small boys. “Aw, you——” Joe did not get any farther, for Nat in passing gave him a look. But he shrugged his shoulders and went on with Roger without replying to Tavia’s advice. “Oh, what fun!” cried Jennie Hapgood, suddenly. “Couldn’t _we_ go coasting?” “Sure we could,” Ned agreed instantly. Lately he seemed to agree with anything Jennie said and that without question. “Tobogganing—oh, my!” cried Tavia, quick to seize upon a new scheme for excitement and fun. Then she turned suddenly serious and added: “If Dorothy will go. Not otherwise.” Dorothy laughed at her openly. “Why not, Tavia?” she demanded. “Are you afraid to trust the boys unless I’m along? I know they are awful cut-ups.” “I feel that Jennie and I should be more carefully chaperoned,” Tavia declared with serious lips but twinkling eyes. “Oh! _Oh!_ OH!” in crescendo from Nat, returning in time to hear this. “Who needs a ‘bag o’ bones’——Excuse me! ‘Chaperon,’ I mean? What’s afoot?” Just then he slipped on the glare ice at the foot of the porch steps and went down with a crash. “You’re not, old man,” cried Ned as the girls squealed. “I hope you have your shock-absorbers on. That was a jim-dandy!” “Did—did it hurt you, Nat?” begged Tavia, with clasped hands. “Oh-ugh!” grunted Nat, gingerly arising and examining the handful of goggles he carried to see if they were all right. “Every bone in my body is broken. Gee! that was some smash.” “Do it again, dear,” Ned teased. “Your mother didn’t happen to see you and she’s at the window now.” “Aw, you go fish!” retorted the younger brother, for his dignity was hurt if nothing else. “Wish it had been you.” “So do I,” sighed Ned. “I’d have done it so much more gracefully. You see, practice in the tango and foxtrot, not to mention other and more intricate dance steps, _does_ help one. And you never would give proper attention to your dancing, Sonny.” “Here!” threatened Nat. “I’ll dance one of my fists off your ear——” “I shall have to part you boys,” broke in Dorothy. “Threatening each other with corporal punishment—and before the ladies.” “Why,” declared Ned, hugging his brother in a bearlike hug as Nat reached his level on the porch. “He can beat me to death if he likes, the dear little thing! Come on, ’Thaniel. What do you say to giving the girls a slide?” “Heh?” ejaculated Nat. “What do you want to let ’em slide for? Got sick of ’em so quick? Where are your manners?” “Oh, Ned!” groaned Tavia. “Don’t you want us hanging around any more?” “I am surprised at Mr. Edward,” Jennie joined in. “Gee, Edward,” said Nat, grinning, “but you do put your foot in your mouth every time you open it.”