"Then I suppose Mr.Ambrose taught you to skate ?" "Exactly--Mr.Ambrose taught me.

He skates very well." "So will you, with a little more practice," answered her companion in a rather patronising tone.

He intended perhaps to convey the idea that Mrs.
Goddard would improve in the exercise if she would actually skate, and with him, instead of submitting to be pushed about in a chair by Mr.
Juxon.
"Oh, I daresay," said Mrs.Goddard indifferently.

"We shall soon be there, now.

I can hear them on the ice." "Too soon," said John with regret.
"I thought you liked skating so much." "I like walking with you much better," he replied, and he glanced at her face to see if his speech produced any sign of sympathy.
"You have walked with me; now you can skate with Nellie," suggested Mrs.
Goddard.
"You talk as though I were a child," said John, suddenly losing his temper in a very unaccountable way.
"Because I said you might skate with Nellie?
Really, I don't see why.