There's a crowd of boys and girls on it already." The pond on the Wingate estate was really a small lake, a mile or more in circumference.

While it froze over every winter, the ice was apt to be rough, and there were often dangerous places in it, air-holes and thin spots where several serious accidents had occurred.
Therefore, Wingate's Pond was not used as much as the river for skating; but this winter the ice was as smooth and solid as if it had been frozen artificially, so the High School boys and girls could not resist the temptation to skim over its surface.
"Isn't it a fine sight ?" asked Grace, as they came in view of the skaters who were circling and gliding over the pond, some by twos and threes, others in long rows, laughing and shouting.
A big fire burned on the bank, rows of new-comers sat near it, fitting on their skates.
"Away with dull care!" cried Hippy, as he circled gracefully over the ice; for, with all his weight, Hippy was considered one of the best skaters in Oakdale.
"Away with everything but fun," finished Grace who could think of nothing save the joy of skating.

"Come along, Anne.

Don't be afraid.

David and I will keep you up until you learn to use those tiny little feet of yours." Anne's small feet went almost higher than her head while Grace was speaking, and she sat flat down on the ice.
"No harm done," she laughed, "only I didn't know it could possibly be so slippery." They pulled her up, David and Grace, and put her between them with Tom Gray on the other side of Grace as additional support, and off they flew, while Anne, keeping her feet together and holding on tightly, sailed along like a small ice boat.
"This will give you confidence," explained David, "and later on you can learn how to use your feet." But Anne hardly heard him, so thrilled was she by the glorious sensation.
As they flew by, followed by Hippy and Nora, with Reddy and Jessica, she caught glimpses of many people looking strangely unfamiliar on skates.
Miriam passed, gliding gracefully over the ice with a troop of sophomores at her heels.