The moon was nearly full and riding parties were going out for a drive across the glittering snow, while where the wind had swept it clear ice yachts were, no doubt, skimming about the lake.

Agatha envied the happy people who could enjoy such sports, and it had cost her something to admit that they were not for her.

A ticket for a concert to which she had thought of going was stuck in a picture frame, but she was not in the humor for music, and putting down the book she held, leaned back languidly in her chair.
The room was small, plainly furnished, and shadowy, for the lamp had a deep shade that confined the light to a narrow circle.

Three or four books lay upon the table and a map of the North-West Territories occupied the end in front of Agatha.

It was not a very good map and the natural features of the country were sketchily indicated, for belts of the northern wilderness had not been thoroughly surveyed, but she had opened it for half an hour's relaxation.