Young Whitney had spent several Sundays with Sterry, and the latter finally accepted the invitation to visit him at his home down in Maine.
These two young men, materially aided by Jennie, speedily turned the house topsy-turvy.

There was no resisting their overrunning spirits, though now and then the mother ventured on a mild protest, but the smile which always accompanied the gentle reproof betrayed the truth, that she was as happy as they in their merriment, with which she would not have interfered for the world.
That night the full, round moon shone from an unclouded sky, and the air was crisp and clear.

There was not much snow on the ground, and the ice on the little river at the rear of the house was as smooth as a polished window-pane.

For nearly two score miles this current, which eventually found its way into the Penobscot, wound through the leafless woods, past an occasional opening, where, perhaps, the humble cabin of some backwoodsman stood.
It was an ideal skating rink, and the particular overflow of spirits on that evening was due to the agreement that it was to be devoted to the exhilarating amusement.
"We will leave the house at 8 o'clock," said Fred at the supper table, "and skate to the mouth of Wild Man's Creek and back." "How far is that ?" inquired Monteith Sterry.
"About ten miles." Pretty Jennie's face took on a contemptuous expression.
"Not a bit more; we shall be only fairly started when we must turn back." "Well, where do you want to go, sister ?" "We shouldn't think of stopping until we reach Wolf Glen." "And may I inquire the distance to that spot ?" asked Sterry again.
"Barely five miles beyond Wild Man's Creek," said she.
Those were not the young men to take a "dare" from a girl like her.
It will be admitted that thirty miles is a pretty good spurt for a skater, but the conditions could not have been more favourable.
"It's agreed, then," remarked Sterry, "that we will go to Wolf Glen, and then, and then--" "And then what ?" demanded Jennie, turning toward him.
"Why not keep on to Boston and call on my folks ?" "If you will furnish the ice we will do so." "I couldn't guarantee ice all the way, but we can travel by other means between the points, using our skates as the chance offers." "Or do as that explorer who is to set out in search of the north pole--have a combination skate and boat, so when fairly going we can keep straight on." "I will consent to that arrangement on one condition," interposed the mother, so seriously that all eyes were turned wonderingly upon her.
"What is that ?" "That you return before the morrow." The countenances became grave, and turning to Sterry, on her right, Jennie asked, in a low voice: "Is it safe to promise that ?" "Hardly.

Let us leave the scheme until we have time in which fully to consider it." "You will start, as I understand, at eight," remarked the mother, speaking now in earnest.