Page:Anna Chapin--Half a dozen boys.djvu/157

Rh owned her skates for ten years, she had not put them on as many times. But she was naturally sure-footed, and, with the three boys to help  her, she was soon able to propel herself slowly  across the smooth sheet of ice, in spite of occasional collisions with the many skaters.

“But what makes me turn around?” she asked anxiously, after she had repeatedly had the mortification of starting for some desired spot, only to turn helplessly midway on her course, and drift aimlessly backwards, with her  puzzled face fixed on the starting-point.

“It’s because you don’t strike out evenly,” said Teddy. “Now watch me, and do as I do.” And he glided away across the pond.

Bess tried to glide after him, but her left foot constantly ran away from her right, and she could only toddle along in a series of short  strokes, until she once more turned her back on  the coveted goal, and, after a brief slide, stopped short, awaiting further instructions. It was a merry evening, and before they left the ice, Bess had learned to appreciate the fascination of the sport, while she retired amidst the congratulations of her three knights, who vied