“Some snow!” the school teacher called, cheerily. “Guess the young ones will have their vacation a day earlier than we intended.”
“Oh, Mr. Haley!” she cried, without replying to his observation. “See if Lottie is with Mrs. Beasely, will you?”
“Sure,” replied Nelson quickly.
He was back in a minute, not having removed his cap and coat. “Hasn’t been with her this afternoon, Miss ’Rill,” said Haley. “What’s the matter? Doesn’t Hopewell know where she is?”
“He said she had gone out with her sled. I’ve been down the hill, but it’s snowing so fast the tracks of the sled are covered.”
“Where’s Hopewell gone?” demanded Haley.
“Down to the dock. He had to go to see about some freight that was left there the last time the Constance Colfax made a trip. He and Walky Dexter will bring it up on Walky’s pung. It’s Christmas goods and—and other things,” and Miss ’Rill blushed, for among the “other things” were the last purchases for her wedding outfit.
“She can’t be over to your mother’s, can she?” asked the young man, quite serious now.
“No,” said Miss ’Rill, shaking her head. “She is not there. Maybe at Cross Moore’s——”
“I’ll go and see,” said the teacher. “You go back into the shop and keep out of this wind. I tell you it’s sharp!”