"Corry!" exclaimed Pen, "Port can skate. See him go!"
"I declare!" remarked the deacon, "so he can."
"So can Vosh," said Mrs. Stebbins. "There ain't any city boy going to beat him right away."
Vosh's effort to find out if that were true had already carried him so far away, that, the moment Corry followed him, Susie felt safe to say,—
"Now, uncle Joshua, if you will help me buckle my skates"—
She was in such a fever to get them on, that she hardly heard the storm of remarks from Mrs. Stebbins and aunt Judith; but the deacon seemed to take an understanding interest in the matter, and he was right down on his knees on the ice, hurrying to fasten those skates for her.
"Can you really skate, Susie?"
"I'll show you in a minute. Please do hurry, before either of them suspect any thing."
"O Susie!" said Pen mournfully, "I do wish I could."
"You must learn some day."