\"Let’sstopatthefirsthouse，then，\"saidCarry。
\"Thefirsthouse，\"saidAddy，peeringthroughthegatheringdarkness，\"isSquireRobinson’s。\"ShedartedamischievousglanceatCarry，that，eveninherdiscomfortandfear，broughtthequickbloodtohercheek。
\"Oh，yes！\"saidKatewithgloomyirony，\"certainly；stopatthesquire’sbyallmeans，andbeinvitedtotea，andbedrivenhomeafterteabyyourdearfriendMr。Harry，withaformalapologyfromMrs。Robinson，andhopesthattheyoungladiesmaybeexcusedthistime。No！\"continuedKatewithsuddenenergy。\"ThatmaysuitYOU；
butI’mgoingbackasIcame，——bythewindow，ornotatall。\"Thenshepouncedsuddenly，likeahawk，onCarry，whowasbetrayingatendencytositdownonasnowbank，andwhimper，andshookherbriskly。\"You’llbegoingtosleepnext。Stay，holdyourtongues，allofyou，——what’sthat？\"
Itwasthesoundofsleigh-bells。Comingdowntowardthemoutofthedarknesswasasleighwithasingleoccupant。\"Holddownyourheads，girls：ifit’sanybodythatknowsus，we’relost。\"Butitwasnot；foravoicestrangetotheirears，butwithalverykindlyandpleasant，askedifitsownercouldbeofanyhelptothem。Astheyturnedtowardhim，theysawitwasamanwrappedinahandsomesealskincloak，wearingasealskincap；hisface，halfconcealedbyamufflerofthesamematerial，disclosingonlyapairoflongmustaches，andtwokeendarkeyes。\"It’sasonofoldSantaClaus！\"whisperedAddy。Thegirlstitteredaudiblyastheytumbledintothesleigh：theyhadregainedtheirformerspirits。\"WhereshallItakeyou？\"saidthestrangerquietly。Therewasahurriedwhispering；andthenKatesaidboldly，\"TotheInstitute。\"Theydrovesilentlyupthehill，untilthelong，asceticbuildingloomedupbeforethem。Thestrangerreinedupsuddenly。\"YouknowthewaybetterthanI，\"hesaid。\"Wheredoyougoin？\"——\"Throughtheback-window，\"saidKatewithsuddenandappallingfrankness。\"I