den-haired, smiling thing, so full of life!
But it was all right now. She was smiling still, as if she did not guess
the deadly peril she had just escaped.

"Don't you know, little one," he asked gently, "that it's very dangerous
to run in front of automobiles?"

"Oh, but I wanted so much to stop you," said Rosemary.

"Why, do you know me?" And the young man smiled such a pleasant smile,
with a gleam of white teeth, that the child was more than ever sure she
had done right.

"Yes, I know you by 'eavensenthinstinct." She got out the long word with
a gasp or two; but it was a great success. She had not mixed up a single
syllable.

The young man burst out laughing. "Where's your nurse?" he asked.

"In London," said Rosemary. "She isn't my nurse any more."

"Well, your mother--"

"She isn't--"

"What? Are you going to tell me she isn't your mother any more? Are you
out 'on your own,' little lady?"

"I don't know what that is; and my mother's my mother just as usual,
thank you," said Rosemary, with dignity. "She's quite well. But she
doesn't know I came out to look for you."

"Oh, doesn't she?" echoed the young man in the car. "Then don't you
think the best thing you can do is to let me take you back to her?"

"She won't be home yet, not till it's dark, I expect," said the child.

"Oh, that's a long time yet. Well, since you know me, wouldn't you like
to climb in, and have a little run?"

"May I, truly and really?" The little face grew pink with joy.

"Truly and really--if you're not afraid."

"What should I be afraid of?" Rosemary asked.

"I was talking nonsense. Get down, Paul, and put her into the tonneau.
You'd better sit by her, perhaps."

The chauffeur proceeded to obey, but when the child found herself being
tucked into a back seat of the car, she gave a little protesting cry.
"Oh, can't I sit in front with you?"

"Of course you can, if you like. Paul, wrap her up well in the rug. Now,
little one, we're going to start. I won't take you too fast."

He turned the car, and passing the Casino drove up the hill, taking the
direction of Mentone, when he had reached the top. He had not been over
this road before, as he had arrived by way of Nice yesterday; but he had
studied road maps, and knew both how and where he wished to go.

"Now," said he, driving carefully, "how do you like it?"

"Oh, it's wonderful!" answered Rosemary, with a rapt smile on her rosy
face.

"Have you ever motored before?"