The cross marks the place where Peter fell down. But he did not care. He got up and tried again.
Polly was doing better. So her father took hold of her and helped her a little.
He said, "I wish you to learn alone. Then you will be a good skater. If I help you all the time, you will never be able to skate alone."
Polly said, "That is what my teacher tells us. She says, 'I will show you how to do it. And I will help you a little. Then you must try for yourself.'"
"That is good," said father. "You must learn to do things alone. Your teacher and your father will not always be near."
Soon the skates were taken off. "We must not stay too long the first time," said father. "You may come again to-morrow. You may skate every day until the snow comes."
"Oh, may we, father, may we?" cried Peter and Polly, jumping up and down. "And when the snow comes, we can sweep it off the ice."
"Maybe I shall not wish for any snow now," said Peter. "Maybe I like skating better."
"You will get the snow just the same, my son," said father. "So you may as well wish for it. It is sure to come."