“Why, you and I, and the Sam Wyndhams, and the Aitchison girls, and Mr.
Topeka, and Mr. Harrington, and Mr. Vancouver–let me see–and Miss St.
Joseph, and young Hannibal. He is very nice, and is very attentive to Miss
St. Joseph.”
“Is it nice, like that, skating about in couples?” asked Joe.
“No; that is the disagreeable part; but the skating is delicious.”
“Let us stay together all the time,” said Joe spontaneously, “it will be ever so much pleasanter. I would not exactly like to be paired off with any of those men, you know.”
Sybil looked at Joe, opening her wide blue eyes in some astonishment. She did not think Joe was exactly one of those young women who object to a moonlight tête-à-tête, if properly chaperoned.
“Yes, if you like, dear,” she said. “I would like it much better myself, of course.”
“Do you know, Sybil,” said Joe, looking up at her taller companion, “I should not think you would care for skating and that sort of thing.”
“Why?” asked Sybil.
“You do not look strong enough. You are not a bit like me, brought up on horseback.”
“Oh, I am very strong,” answered Sybil, “only I am naturally pale, you see, and people think I am delicate.”