John hoped it would be slippery--very--when he strode home withCynthia, as he determined to do, but he did not dare to say so, andthe conversation ran aground again. John thought about his hound andhis sled and his yoke of steers, but he didn't see any way to bringthem into conversation. Had she read the "Swiss Family Robinson"?0nly a little ways. John exclaimed it was splendid, and he would lend itto her, for which she thanked him, and exclaimed, with such a sweetexpression, she should be so glad to have it from him. That wasencouraging.