When Flora and Thomas brought Arthur out of the tent, Rob ran towards them.
"Oh, Arthur—" he began.
"I know all about it," said Arthur: "Nelly and you are going home with us. I'd rather stay here, but they won't let me; and having you go home with us is next best."
Rob thought this was rather an ungracious way for Arthur to speak, and so it was.
"You wouldn't like it here in the winter half so well as you do now, Arthur," he said. "It's awfully cold sometimes; and real deep snow. You'd be shut up in the house lots."
"So I am at home," said Arthur: "weeks and weeks."
"But your house is nicer to be shut up in than ours," continued Rob.
"I don't care," said Arthur: "I wanted to stay. But I'm real glad you and Nelly are going. Can Nelly skate? We'll go and see her skate in the Park."
"No, she can't! but I can," said Rob. "Is there good skating there?"
"Oh, goodness, Rob!" exclaimed Arthur, "didn't you know about the skating in Central Park? Well, you'll see! We drive up there every pleasant day. I'm sick of it. But the skating's some fun: I wish I could skate."