"Speak fur yerself, Gote Lightcap," spoke up Rhoda Jane with spirit. "There ain't none of us so disobligin' as not to be willin' to scrouge a little for the sake of accommodatin' a fellow critter in distress. Set up a little closer, girls, and there'll be lots o' room." "Yes; the more the merrier, and the closer the warmer," assented Sarah Miller, Gote Lightcap's partner for the expedition, who had noticed with vexation and chagrin his evident interest in Mildred Keith. "Come on, Buzzard," making room for the singing teacher between Rhoda Jane and herself. "Thank you, ladies. I shall be a thorn between two roses," he said, taking the offered seat with a laugh at his own stale jest. "Now we've got the singing master along, let's have some music," said Rhoda Jane, when they were fairly on their way. "Yes, you'll be expected to pay your way Buzzard," remarked Ormsby. "I hope I'll always be found willing to do that," he responded. "Miss Lightcap, what shall I sing?" Highly pleased that the choice was given her, Rhoda Jane promptly named a love song she had heard him sing as a solo. He gave it, then another, selected by Miss Miller, then turning to Mildred, "I think it is your turn now, Miss Keith," he said. She proposed a round he had taught them that winter, saying all could join in it. All did so with right good will. Other rounds, glees, choruses and solos followed. They sang on even after reaching Pleasant Plains; sang on till but two or three were left as one after another was set down at his or her own door. A light burned in the parlor at Mr. Keith's and the front door was opened before the sleigh had quite drawn up to it. "Poor, dear mother! what a shame to have kept you up so long!" Mildred exclaimed as she came in. "Never mind," was the cheerful reply. "Here's a good warm fire; take this arm-chair close to it, and don't remove any of your wraps till you cease to feel chilly. I should have prepared you some hot lemonade but for one little difficulty in the way; no lemons to be had. Coffee would keep you awake; but you shall have a glass of good rich milk; either hot or cold, as you prefer. Now tell me what sort of a time you had." "I wish every girl had such a mother as mine," Mildred said, smiling fondly up into the face she loved so well. "I verily believe I take as much pleasure in recounting my adventures to you as in going through them. And it is so nice to have so safe and wise and loving a confidante. "Mother, I have a great deal to tell you, not so much about what has occurred to-night as of something that happened last night. I have been looking for an opportunity all day, but without finding it; for you know we were unusually busy all the morning and had company all the afternoon till it was time for me to get ready for the sleigh-ride." Mrs. Keith glanced at the face of a tall old-fashioned clock ticking in a corner of the room.