"Oh, well, I like it in winter. It's well enough. You've been out here in summer too."
"It's twice as good then."
"No, Susie, it can't be. It must be all hard work in summer. But think of the fun we've had!"
She did; and late in the evening Vosh Stebbins stepped up to her, and whispered,—
"May I see you home? The cutter's waiting at the door. All the rest are getting ready to start."
"I've got to say good-by to them all, I suppose."
"Go round and say it now. I don't want to sleigh-ride anybody else. They've all got company."
That was the reason why, a little afterwards, Vosh Stebbins's mother could not find him. He and Susie were jingling over the snow behind the sorrel colt, and it was a long way home before they returned to the house.