`` Lots of 'em , '' said Dan cheerily . `` Why not ? '' `` Oh , I do n't know , '' answered Cecily , her footsteps lagging somewhat . `` Only things seem just a little too pleasant to last . '' `` If Willy Fraser had had as much spunk as Peter , Miss Cecily King might n't be so low spirited , '' quoth Dan , significantly . Cecily tossed her head and disdained reply . There are really some remarks a self-respecting young lady must ignore . CHAPTER IV . NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS If we did not have a white Christmas we had a white New Year . Midway between the two came a heavy snowfall . It was winter in our orchard of old delights then , -- so truly winter that it was hard to believe summer had ever dwelt in it , or that spring would ever return to it . There were no birds to sing the music of the moon ; and the path where the apple blossoms had fallen were heaped with less fragrant drifts . But it was a place of wonder on a moonlight night , when the snowy arcades shone like avenues of ivory and crystal , and the bare trees cast fairy-like traceries upon them . Over Uncle Stephen 's Walk , where the snow had fallen smoothly , a spell of white magic had been woven . Taintless and wonderful it seemed , like a street of pearl in the new Jerusalem . On New Year 's Eve we were all together in Uncle Alec 's kitchen , which was tacitly given over to our revels during the winter evenings . The Story Girl and Peter were there , of course , and Sara Ray 's mother had allowed her to come up on condition that she should be home by eight sharp . Cecily was glad to see her , but the boys never hailed her arrival with over-much delight , because , since the dark began to come down early , Aunt Janet always made one of us walk down home with her . We hated this , because Sara Ray was always so maddeningly self-conscious of having an escort . We knew perfectly well that next day in school she would tell her chums as a `` dead '' secret that `` So-and-So King saw her home '' from the hill farm the night before .
Now , seeing a young lady home from choice , and being sent home with her by your aunt or mother are two entirely different things , and we thought Sara XXXXX ought to have sense enough to know it .
Alec Cecily Dan Janet Jerusalem King Peter Ray before traceries