"Get thy sweater and come out, little sister. Thee doesn't know this night air," laughed Mr. Benjamin. So in the end Peggy allowed herself to be persuaded, and went along. "Silly, spoiled little minx," commented Mr. Benjamin. "Oh, we'll soon manage her, my dear, but what about this smouldering Isabelle with her old eyes?" sighed his wife. He patted her hand. "I leave her to thee, my Phoebe." Outside the moon rode high, the air was crisp and sweet, the silence unbroken save for the shouts of the girls. The leaves were piled in a huge mound, in a cleared space some distance from the house. They set a match to it, and the flames leapt hungry and fierce. The girls formed a circle and danced around it, singing. Mr. Benjamin stopped a second on his way to the barn, and called a warning about whirling skirts as he went on. The circle broke into dancing pairs. Some one started leap frog. Isabelle forgot everything except that she was having a good time. There were friendliness and joy and freedom. She drank of them to the full. She played wildly, excitedly. She began to lead in the games. Even Peggy forgot her role and joined in. The flames were lower now, and with a sudden running leap Isabelle jumped over them. Without hesitation the whole line followed--all except Peggy, who held back. "Come on, Peggy, don't be a 'fraid-cat!" shouted Isabelle. So Peggy made a half-hearted jump and landed in the fire. In a second her skirts were ablaze, and the silence of terror struck the girls dumb. Isabelle ran at Peggy and dragged her out, she threw her on the ground, tearing at her skirt with her bare hands. "Pile sweaters on her!" she ordered the girls. They obeyed, and Isabelle threw herself upon the smouldering heap, in an effort to quench the fire. Mr. Benjamin came upon them, and the girls explained in shrill unison. He lifted Isabelle off; picked Peggy up, half unconscious; cut away the still smoking skirt, and carried her into the house. The girls followed, awed and weak from fright. They sat in silence in the living room awaiting the report from upstairs. Both the Benjamins were up there. There had been no serious damage done. The heavy wool shirt had protected her legs, but the shock had played havoc with poor Peggy's nerves, and she screamed and cried long after she was rubbed, greased, bandaged, and comfortable. When Mrs. Benjamin finally came downstairs to get some hot milk for her, she found the frightened girls still sitting there. She relieved their minds at once. "How did it happen?" she inquired. They explained how Isabelle jumped the blaze and urged timid Peggy to follow. "Where is Isabelle?" demanded Mrs. Benjamin. It appeared that nobody knew. In the excitement they had not noticed her absence. Should they go and look for her? "No; I'll find her. Agnes, go to the kitchen and get a glass of hot milk and take it to Peggy. The rest of you go to bed as quietly as possible. I will find Isabelle," said Mrs. Benjamin.