"That's right, Sam, stand up for your own particular girl" began Tom.
"I didn't say she was my girl," cried Sam, and he was glad that the darkness hid his red-growing face. "I'm no more sweet on her than you are on her sister Nellie."
"It's Dick who must lead off, with Dora Stanhope" went on Tom.
"Oh, stow it, and come on!" burst in Dick. "If you keep on talking you'll surely be caught. Grinder may be coming after us in a carriage."
"If we had our bicycles we could get there in no time," said Sam,
"Yes, and we might break our necks in the dark," added Dick. "Come, we haven't more than a mile further to go."
On the three trudged, through the snow, which was coming down faster each instant. Once they thought they heard carriage wheels behind them, but soon the sounds faded away in the distance.
At last they came in sight of the Stanhope cottage. A bright light was streaming from the sitting-room windows, and looking in they saw Dora sitting at the table reading a book, and Mrs. Stanhope resting comfortably in an easy-chair in front of the bright-burning fire.
Dora herself came to the door in answer to their ring. "Why, mamma, it's the Rovers!" she cried, as she shook hands. "I never expected
