VIII 



UNDER THE POLAR STAR 



JJCH wind and threatening 

 weather, then two days 

 of falling snow that 

 buried the fences, and 

 at last the northwest 

 wind sent the clouds 

 scurrying, and bright 

 sunshine returned with 

 the day before Christ- 

 mas. 



" It is like the pictures in a fairy story ; do look at 

 the trees and the top of the rose arbor ! " said Dodo 

 that Friday morning, as she rubbed a peep-hole in the 

 frost on the dining-room window. " Rod is breaking 

 the road up the hill, and all you can see is the top of 

 his head, and Tom and Jerry step in up to where their 

 blankets are strapped. It's lucky we had the Christ- 

 mas tree cut down and waiting in the shed before the 

 snow came." 



"It isn't in the shed," said Nat, mischievously, com- 

 ing in with dancing eyes and a very red, cold nose, the 

 only parts of his face that could be seen between his 

 muffler and cap brim. 



" Oh, where is it ? " wailed Dodo. " Do you think 



94 



