Mrs. Ross was a wise not less than a loving mother, and one of the proofs of her wisdom was the hearty interest she took in her son’s sports as well as in his studies. He had lost his father when but a baby, and she had determined to fill the vacant place to the best of her ability. So from the very first she entered heartily into his amusements, and made herself his companion as far as she could. Theo never played cricket or lacrosse so well as when his mother was looking on, and no applause was sweeter to him than the clapping of her hands. He therefore felt sure of an attentive listener as he proceeded to unfold the cause of his excitement. "Well, you know, mother, the Bridgetown boys have been boasting all winter about their toboggans, and saying that they can run away from anything in Riverside, and our fellows have been talking back at them, until both sides have begun to feel pretty hot over it. We’ve had a lot of races, but they didn’t settle anything, because sometimes the Bridgetown boys would win and sometimes the Riverside; so this afternoon I proposed to Ralph Masterton that next Saturday afternoon he should bring a team of four tobogganers from the town, and I would bring four from the country, and we’d settle the question without any more talk." "Well, but, Theo dear, won’t it be dangerous for so many as eight to coast down together? You might run into each other," asked Mrs. Ross, rather anxiously. "O you dear innocent!" laughed Theo, "that’s not the way we’ll do at all. Only two will go down at a time. You see there will be, first of all, four heats, and we’ll draw lots for our places in the heats; then the four winners will run against each other, making two more heats; and then there will be a final heat in which the two winners will run together, and that will decide." "That seems a very good arrangement," said Mrs. Ross approvingly. "Whose idea was it?" "Mostly mine, mother. It’s the best way to get fair play all round," answered Theo. "Will you have any difficulty in choosing your team?" "Oh, not much. Walt Powell and Rob Sands will be on for sure. They have good toboggans, and they can steer splendidly. The fourth chap I’ll pick out through the week." "Well, Theo, you must do your best to win, for I’ll be there to watch you." "You may depend upon it I will, for your sake as much as for the honour of Riverside," replied Theo, giving his mother a loving kiss before he went off to his room for a wash.