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to a sitting posture he became aware that eight young ladies were
watching his proceedings with interest。

〃This comes of a common man putting himself above his station by
getting into gentlemen's skates;〃 he said。 〃Had I been content
with a humble slide; as my fathers was; I should ha' been a
happier man at the present moment。〃 He sighed; rose; touched his
hat to Miss Ward; and took off his skates; adding: 〃Good…morning;
Miss。 Miss Wilson sent me word to be here sharp at six to put on
the young ladies' skates; and I took the liberty of trying a
figure or two to keep out the cold。〃

〃Miss Wilson did not tell me that she ordered you to come;〃 said
Miss Ward。

〃Just like her to be thoughtful and yet not let on to be! She is
a kind lady; and a learnedlike yourself; Miss。 Sit yourself
down on the camp…stool。 and give me your heel; if I may be so
bold as to stick a gimlet into it。〃

His assistance was welcome; and Miss Ward allowed him to put on
her skates。 She was a Canadian; and could skate well。 Jane; the
first to follow her; was anxious as to the strength of the ice;
but when reassured; she acquitted herself admirably; for she was
proficient in outdoor exercises; and had the satisfaction of
laughing in the field at those who laughed at her in the study。
Agatha; contrary to her custom; gave way to her companions; and
her boots were the last upon which Smilash operated。

〃How d'you do; Miss Wylie?〃 he said; dropping the Smilash manner
now that the rest were out of earshot。

〃I am very well; thank you;〃 said Agatha; shy and constrained。
This phase of her being new to him; he paused with her heel in
his hand and looked up at her curiously。 She collected herself;
returned his gaze steadily; and said: 〃How did Miss Wilson send
you word to come? She only knew of our party at half…past nine
last night。〃

〃Miss Wilson did not send for me。〃

〃But you have just told Miss Ward that she did。〃

〃Yes。 I find it necessary to tell almost as many lies now that I
am a simple laborer as I did when I was a gentleman。 More; in
fact。〃

〃I shall know how much to believe of what you say in the future。〃

〃The truth is this。 I am perhaps the worst skater in the world;
and therefore; according to a natural law; I covet the faintest
distinction on the ice more than immortal fame for the things in
which nature has given me aptitude to excel。 I envy that large
friend of yoursJane is her name; I thinkmore than I envy
Plato。 I came down here this morning; thinking that the skating
world was all a…bed; to practice in secret。〃

〃I am glad we caught you at it;〃 said Agatha maliciously; for he
was disappointing her。 She wanted him to be heroic in his
conversation; and he would not。

〃I suppose so;〃 he replied。 〃I have observed that Woman's dearest
delight is to wound Man's self…conceit; though Man's dearest
delight is to gratify hers。 There is at least one creature lower
than Man。 Now; off with you。 Shall I hold you until your ankles
get firm?〃

〃Thank you;〃 she said; disgusted: 〃_I_ can skate pretty well; and
I don't think you could give me any useful assistance。〃 And she
went off cautiously; feeling that a mishap would be very
disgraceful after such a speech。

He stood on the shore; listening to the grinding; swaying sound
of the skates; and watching the growing complexity of the curves
they were engraving on the ice。 As the girls grew warm and
accustomed to the exercise they laughed; jested; screamed
recklessly when they came into collision; and sailed before the
wind down the whole length of the pond at perilous speed。 The
more animated they became; the gloomier looked Smilash。 〃Not
two…penn'orth of choice between them and a parcel of puppies;〃 he
said; 〃except that some of them are conscious that there is a man
looking at them; although he is only a blackguard laborer。 They
remind me of Henrietta in a hundred ways。 Would I laugh; now; if
the whole sheet of ice were to burst into little bits under
them?〃

Just then the ice cracked with a startling report; and the
skaters; except Jane; skimmed away in all directions。

〃You are breaking the ice to pieces; Jane;〃 said Agatha; calling
from a safe distance。 〃How can you expect it to bear your
weight?〃

〃Pack of fools!〃 retorted Jane indignantly。 〃The noise only shows
how strong it is。〃

The shock which the report had given Smilash answered him his
question。 〃Make a note that wishes for the destruction of the
human race; however rational and sincere; are contrary to
nature;〃 he said; recovering his spirits。 〃Besides; what a
precious fool I should be if I were working at an international
association of creatures only fit for destruction! Hi; lady! One
word; Miss!〃 This was to Miss Ward; who had skated into his
neighborhood。 〃It bein' a cold morning; and me havin' a poor and
common circulation; would it be looked on as a liberty if I was
to cut a slide here or take a turn in the corner all to myself?〃

〃You may skate over there if you wish;〃 she said; after a pause
for consideration; pointing to a deserted spot at the leeward end
of the pond; where the ice was too rough for comfortable skating。

〃Nobly spoke!〃 he cried; with a grin; hurrying to the place
indicated; where; skating being out of the question; he made a
pair of slides; and gravely exercised himself upon them until his
face glowed and his fingers tingled in the frosty air。 The time
passed quickly; when Miss Ward sent for him to take off her
skates there was a general groan and declaration that it could
not possibly be half…past eight o'clock yet。 Smilash knelt before
the camp…stool; and was presently busy unbuckling and unscrewing。
When Jane's turn came; the camp…stool creaked beneath her weight。
Agatha again remonstrated with her; but immediately reproached
herself with flippancy before Smilash; to whom she wished to
convey an impression of deep seriousness of character。

〃Smallest foot of the lot;〃 he said critically; holding Jane's
foot between his finger and thumb as if it were an art treasure
which he had been invited to examine。 〃And belonging to the
finest built lady。〃

Jane snatched away her foot; blushed; and said:

〃Indeed! What next; I wonder?〃

〃T'other 'un next;〃 he said; setting to work on the remaining
skate。 When it was off; he looked up at her; and she darted a
glance at him as she rose which showed that his compliment (her
feet were; in fact; small and pretty) was appreciated。

〃Allow me; Miss;〃 he said to Gertrude; who was standing on one
leg; leaning on Agatha; and taking off her own skates。

〃No; thank you;〃 she said coldly。 〃I don't need your assistance。〃

〃I am well aware that the offer was overbold;〃 he replied; with a
self…complacency that made his profession of humility
exasperating。 〃If all the skates is off; I will; by Miss Wilson's
order; carry them and the camp…stool back to the college。〃

Miss Ward handed him her skates and turned away。 Gertrude placed
hers on the stool and went with Miss Ward。 The rest followed;
leaving him to stare at the heap of skates and consider how he
should carry them。 He could think of no better plan than to
interlace the straps and hang them in a chain over his shoulder。
By the time he had done this the young ladies were out of sight;
and his intention of enjoying their society during the return to
the college was defeated。 They had entered the building long
before he came in sight of it。

Somewhat out of conceit with his folly; he went to the servants'
entrance and rang the bell there。 When the door was opened; he
saw Miss Ward standing behind the maid who admitted him。

〃Oh;〃 she said; looking at the string of skates as if she had
hardly expected to see them again; 〃so you have brought our
things back?〃

〃Such were my instructions;〃 he said; taken aback by her manner。
〃You had no instructions。 What do you mean by getting our skates
into your charge under false pretences? I was about to send the
police to take them from you。 How dare you tell me that you were
sent to wait on me; when you know very well that you were nothing
of the sort?〃

〃I couldn't help it; Miss;〃 he replied submissively。 〃I am a
natural born liaralways was。 I know that it must appear
dreadful to you that never told a lie; and don't hardly know what
a lie is; belonging as you do to a class where none is ever told。
But common people like me tells lies just as a duck swims。 I ask
your pardon; Miss; most humble; and I hope the young ladies'll be
able to tell one set of skates from t'other; for I'm blest if I
can。〃

〃Put them down。 Miss Wilson wishes to speak to you before you go。
Susan; show him the way。〃

〃Hope you ain't been and got a poor cove into trouble; Miss?〃

〃Miss Wilson knows how you have behaved。〃

He smiled at her benevolently and followed Susan upstairs。 On
their way they met Jane; who stole a glance at him; and was about
to pass by; when he said:

〃Won't you say a word to Miss Wilson for a poor common fellow;
honored young lady? I have got into dreadful trouble for having
made bold to assist you this morning。〃

〃You needn't give yourself the pains to talk like that;〃 replied
Jane in an impetuous whisper。 〃We all know that you're only

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