The whole party crowded to the hearth where benches and chairs were drawn up in a wide circle before the flames. The maids relieved Mrs. MacCall and the girls of their outer wraps and overshoes. The boys had been shown where they were to leave their caps and coats.
Such a hilarious crowd as they were! Jokes and cheerful gossip were the order of this hour of rest. With all but one member of the party! There was one very serious face, and this was the countenance of the youngest of the four Kenway sisters.
“Dorothy Kenway! what is the matter with you?” demanded Tess, at last seeing the expression on the face of her little sister.
Dot had been gazing all about the room with amazed eyes until this question came. Then with gravity she asked:
“Tessie! didn’t Mr. Howbridge say this was a lodge?”
“Why, yes; this is Red Deer Lodge, child,” rejoined Tess.
“But—but, Tess! you know it isn’t a lodge, nor a room where they have lodges! Now, is it?!”
“Why—why—”
“It can’t be!” went on the smaller girl with great insistence. “You know that was a lodge where we went night before last to have our Christmas tree on Meadow Street.”
“A lodge?” gasped Tess.