Gertie and Marcia looked delighted at the idea, but not so Kenneth. Barwell's pond was deep, and the ice there was showing signs of a thaw. He knew, for he had tested it that very morning.
"No, Rupert," he said very decidedly. "Barwell's pond isn't safe; why not try the Ravensbourne?"
"The Ravensbourne! Pooh, a dirty little ditch like that!" retorted Rupert. "I dare say it would suit a tortoise like you, but it won't suit me. What do you say, girls?"
Gertie, who was fully as adventurous as Rupert, scoffed at the idea of Barwell's pond not being safe, but Kenneth held his own.
"No, Rupert," he said; "we mustn't do it, old chap. I wouldn't have an accident there for anything."
Rupert here gave Gertie a knowing look, as much as to say, "Hold your tongue!"
And a few minutes after, Kenneth, thinking the matter settled, went out of doors with the object of taking Bruno—his own magnificent Newfoundland—for a run.
As soon as the lad had passed out of earshot, Rupert turned to the girls.
"Did you ever know such an old woman as Ken is!" he said, looking a trifle cross. "I believe, because he's the elder twin, he thinks he's 'father' to us all."
Marcia, in Ken's defence, spoke up bravely: "Ken isn't an old woman," retorted she; "he's better than any of us, really."