“How do you do?” responded Bert.
“You’re the new junior, aren’t you?” she went on. “I forget your name. Mine’s Nan. Doctor Merton’s my father.”
“My name is Albert Bryant. I didn’t see anyone about——”
“Daddy’s talking with Mr. Crane in the office, mamma’s in the village and Mr. Folsom hasn’t come back yet. I’m all there is, you see, and so you’ll have to put up with me until daddy’s ready for you. I guess it was pretty cold driving up from the station, wasn’t it?”
“It was, rather,” acknowledged Bert, rubbing his fingers together. “My train was late in New York and I missed the train I was expecting to get.”
Nan nodded. “Lots of the boys were late. Two of them haven’t got here yet; Mr. Folsom, too. He lives in Syracuse and there’s been heaps of snow up that way. I like snow, though, don’t you? We’ve got a dandy toboggan slide. Do you like to toboggan?”
“I never tried it,” answered Bert. “I should think, though, it would be good fun.”
“It’s grand! Did the Pirate bring you up?”
“The Pirate?”