"  Oh,  do  come  away,  Ruth ! '

"  He  isn't  any  handsome  object,  that's  a  fact,"
muttered  Tom.  "  And  the  cheek  of  him — nod-
ding to  you  two  girls ! '

After  the  excitement  of  the  accident  on  the  lake
our  friends  did  not  feel  much  like  skating  until  it
£ame  time  to  go  back  to  the  landing.  Mr.  Har-
greaves  was  out  on  the  ice  writh  those  students  of
the  two  schools  who  preferred  to  skate;  but  Miss
Reynolds  remained  in  the  cabin.  Mary  Cox  had
had  her  lunch  in  the  little  stateroom,  wrapped  in
blankets  and  in  the  company  of  an  oil-stove,  for
heat's  sake.  Now  she  came  out,  re-dressed  in  her
own  clothes,  which  were  somewhat  mussed  and
shrunken  in  appearance.
Helen  ran  to  her  at  once  to  congratulate  Mary
on  her  escape.  "And  wasn't  it  lucky  Tom  and
Ruth  were  so  near  you?  "  she  cried.  "  And  dear
old  Ruthie!  she's  quite  a  heroine;  isn't  she?  And
you  must  meet  Tom."

"I  shall  be  glad  to  meet  and  thank  your
brother,  Helen,"  said  The  Fox,  rather  crossly.
"  But  I  don't  see  what  need  there  is  to  make  a
fuss  over  Fielding.  Your  brother  and  Mr.  Har-
f reaves  pulled  Mr.  Stee.le  and  me  out  or  the  lake."


186    RUTH  FIELDING  AT  BRIARWOOD   HALL

Helen  stepped  back  and  her  pretty  face  flushed.
She  had  begun  to  see  Mary  Cox  in  her  true  light.
Certainly  she  was  in  no  mood  just  then  to  hear
her  chum  disparaged.  She  looked  around  for
Tom  and  Ruth;  the  former  was  talking  quietly
with  Miss  Reynolds,  but  Ruth  had  slipped  away
when  The  Fox  came  into  the  cabin.
