"Nor am I," Ruth announced, with emphasis.
"Well, I don't see——" Agnes began, when Neale exclaimed:
"Wait. Joe's stopped them."
Eldred had interfered when Trix and her escort started into the snow castle. The Corner House girls and Neale drew near.
"I don't care!" Trix was saying in her loud voice. "I'm going to skate. Oh! don't bother to tell me it isn't safe, Joe Eldred. You just want to keep me off the ice."
She was already sitting on a rough bench that had been drawn there by the boys, and Wilbur was putting on her skates.
"You always do know it all, Trix," Joe said, sharply, "but I advise you to go slow——"
The obstinate girl stood up as Wilbur finished with the last strap. She laughed in Joe's face.
"You make me tired, Joe Eldred," she observed, and without waiting for further parley she shot away into the otherwise empty castle.
"Oh! why didn't you stop her?" cried Ruth, anxiously.