"No she won't, either. We're too far away. Didn't I tell you Lu's and Ruth's friendship was for one night only? I knew well enough why Lu asked her to come. Any one could see through that. She wants to learn how to skate, and this was as ready a way as any to be taught, and she jumps at the chance." "Oh, do hush! She'll hear!" "Don't care if she does. I don't know what your opinion is, but mine is that it's positively brazen of her to do such things before a crowd like this. Dragging John Gardiner into it, too! It's a disgrace!" "Sh, please! There he comes!" Nan pulled herself wearily forward a step or two to meet him. "I say, what's up? What's the matter?" he demanded anxiously, looking into her face and seeing the change it had undergone. "Nothing! Nothing!" she reassured him quickly. "I'm tired, that's all. And I didn't realize these people were watching us. Let's get out of this. I hate the way they stare. I want to go home." John took her by the elbow and steered for the bank. "Won't you find Grace and Louie first? You came with them, didn't you? They won't know what's become of you." "I don't care! I want to go home!" she repeated irritably. They sped forward silently, and in a moment had reached the shore. Nan trembled so as she tried to unfasten her skates that John pushed her hands aside and made her submit to having him assist her. "You've caught cold!" he said remorsefully, "I was a brute to keep urging you on. But I didn't dream you were tired. You looked so bright and well." "I'm not tired. I haven't caught cold!" said Nan. "Don't bother about me, please. Go back and finish up your skate!" "Thank you kindly, ma'am," rejoined he, removing his own skates. "But I've finished it up already," and he grasped her arm and tramped her off in the direction of the Park entrance with vigorous steps. "Won't Lou and Ruth wonder?" he ventured again after a moment of silence. "No! They don't care!" cried Nan, dismally. "The mischief they don't!" and John gave vent to an exclamation of disbelief. "Why, Ruth was only telling me half an hour ago how good and generous you were, and Louie caught me in the Lodge and went into regular spasms over you. You're the patientest, the generousest--everythingelse-est girl she knows. I had actually to tear myself away from her raptures when I saw that you were free of her and could take a turn with me." Nan shook her head. "No, you're wrong, John!" she said hopelessly. "They don't like me. None of them do. It's no use. I thought Christmas eve I might make them, perhaps--but I give it up. I'm too--different!" "Now, see here, Nan!" cried John, stopping suddenly in the middle of the path and confronting her squarely, "this change of base has come on you all of a sudden. You weren't in such a state before. You've seen something or heard something that's given you a turn. Say now, haven't you, honestly?" Nan gulped and nodded grimly.