"Jump on, girls," he cried gayly, "and we'll give you a ride. We're going your way, and we'll draw you home. We're on our way over to Black Hill, coasting, and say, any time that you come out to the hill, you come to us, and we'll take you down on our sled as many times as you want to go. She's the fastest one on the hill, and we don't generally take girls, because they are always afraid; but you won't be, so we'll give you a good time whenever you come out."
The girls thanked them delightedly, and then sat down on the sled and in a moment they were spinning down the street, the snow from the heels of their kindly steeds flying in their faces.
Presently Marie leaned forward over little Bertha's shoulders and whispered in Frances' ear: "Well, I've learned what love can do. Isn't it wonderful?"
Frances turned her head and replied, softly, "Yes, and I have learned that 'the truth is my shield and buckler.'"
