"I'll take it now."
"So will I!" agreed Mollie, and Grace, gliding to one side, allowed her partner to take the lead.
"Now they're off!" cried Will again.
"Thank goodness, I'm warm, anyhow!" remarked Grace, a rosy glow replacing the former paleness of her cheeks.
Leaving Amy and Grace to follow on more leisurely, the youths rushed up to see the finish of the race. It was close, but by unanimous decision they awarded the contest to Betty.
"Oh, I'm so glad you won, anyhow!" declared Mollie with fine spirit. "You earned it, Betty dear, but I thought I was going to beat you, until the very end."
"Yes, and you might have, only your left skate was loose," said Betty. "I noticed it. Suppose we try it over?"
"Indeed not! My skate did loosen," spoke Mollie, "but I wasn't going to say anything about it. You won fairly Betty, and I'm too exhausted to try again. Now if the boys will——"
"Oh, we'll fulfill our part of the program!" declared Will promptly. "Come on back to the village whenever you like, and order what you wish. Or we can go on to the store of the poetical Mr. Lagg if you prefer."
"It's too far," protested Grace, who, with Amy, had come up now. "Besides he doesn't serve hot chocolate."