such a foolhardy thing." 43 She made no answer, and at the risk of losing his straight course he stole a rapid glance at her. To his surprise she was crimson with what was obvious, even to his fleeting view, as embarrassment. Her fingers twisted nervously; the tears that suffused her eyes were certainly not tears of grief or fright. She bit furiously at her under lip, and began more than one sentence that faltered away into confusion. Indeed, they had triumphantly climbed and descended a hill that sent Antony's heart into his throat before she succeeded in the task she evidently loathed but had as evidently determined to fulfil. "Mr.--Mr. Tony," she began suddenly, alarmed in her turn at their increased speed as they went down the hill, "in case, as you say, anything should happen, I must tell you something. When I said 44 that about--about my running the car perfectly well----" 44 "You didn't, of course, put it in that way," he interjected, as she seemed unable to go on. "Oh, didn't I?" she asked. "I thought you said I did." "You said that they ran themselves, you remember, and that you were used to them," he reminded her, "and I took that to mean----" "Oh, that's what I said," she repeated, thoughtfully. "Don't you know what you said?" he demanded, a spasm of terror catching him and quickening his heart-beat as a great waggon loomed into sight horribly near them. Despairingly he glanced at the shining metal paraphernalia that encompassed him--his eye fell upon an unmistakable brass horn at his right, terminating in a rubber bulb. This could be but one thing, and cautiously loosening one clammy hand from the wheel, he pressed the bulb nervously. A loud, harsh cry from its brazen throat relieved him inexpressibly and sent a glow of confidence through him. He repeated the pressure, the driver of the cart looked leisurely around, and with a 45 scowl drew off to one side of the road. Antony's blood resumed its normal pace, and as the course was now clear for a moment, anyway, he repeated his question: 45 "Don't you know what you said?" The trees, the full brooks, the grazing cattle, unrolled behind them like a painted ribbon for several seconds before she
Prev.
Back
Top