the attack was so severe, that she must needs go indoors, and leave her favourite sport on the very first day when it had been possible to enjoy it. Miss Everett walked with her across the field, cheering and encouraging, and directing her to go straight to Nurse when she reached the house, then retraced her own steps and hurried back to her charges. She had been away only five minutes, barely five minutes, but in that short time something had happened which was destined to bring about life-long consequences to more than one member of the party, for it chanced that just as she turned away Rhoda Chester reached the top of the run, on the lookout for fresh opportunities. It was absurd to go over the same course, with no change, no excitement--to do what thirty other girls could do as well as herself! She must try to discover some variety this time, and so she gazed about with critical eyes, and suddenly had an inspiration, for why not drag the toboggan a yard or two further up the steep bank beyond the path which made the present start? It was a tree- crowned bank, forming the very crest of the hill, so short that it measured at the most six or seven yards, but of a steepness far eclipsing any other portion of the run. If she could start from this higher point she would accomplish a feat unattempted by any of her companions, and descend at a velocity hitherto unknown! No sooner thought than done, and she began to climb the bank, dragging the toboggan behind her, while the onlookers stared aghast. "In the name of everything that is crazy, Rhoda Chester, what are you doing up there?" "Rhoda, come _down_! Don't be absurd! You can't possibly start from there!" "Why not, pray? I can, if I choose. I'm tired of ambling down that baby-run. I want a little variety!" "You will have it with a vengeance, if you start from there. It's far too steep. Don't be obstinate now, and get into trouble. Evie will be furious with you." "Why should she be? There's no rule against it. I'm not doing anything wrong... Get out of the way, please. I'm coming!" "No, no; wait, wait! Wait until Evie comes back, and says you may. She will be here in a moment. _Do_ wait, Rhoda, just one minute!" But Rhoda would not wait. Although, as she had argued, there was no rule forbidding what she was about to do, she had an instinctive feeling that Evie was too anxious about the safety of her charges to give consent to anything that involved unnecessary risk. Evie's absence was her opportunity, and she must act now or never; so, seating herself firmly on her toboggan, she called out the last word of warning; "I'm coming, I tell you! Stand back!" "You will break your neck! You will kill yourself, if you are so mad!"