e savages, with their trinkets and beads, which they think fine
jewels,' said Sarah.

This time Horatia was really offended, but she did not say anything; and
Mr Howroyd said quickly, 'I shall begin to think you are ill, Sarah, or
sickening for a fever, and shall telephone to your mother to send for a
doctor, if you talk such nonsense.--Now, Miss Horatia, come and see my
greatest treasure of all; and he took her into an adjoining room, without
asking Sarah to accompany them at all. By the time they had seen his
greatest treasure, which was some wonderful needlework, the motor was
announced, and the two girls got into it.

'Now, I'm just going to time ourselves. We got home in seven minutes last
time; do you think we could do it in five to-day?' inquired Horatia of
Sarah.

'Certainly not. It's four miles from door to door. You'd no business to
do it in seven minutes; and if you incite Tom to do it in five he'll get
locked up, if he lives, and he'll well deserve it,' declared Mr Howroyd.

Tom Fox smiled grimly. He had known Mr Howroyd and Mr Howroyd had known
him since he was a tiny boy, so he answered, 'You'll not live to see me
locked up, Mr Howroyd--not for furious driving in the public road; though
I'll not deny that I did put on speed the day missie speaks of, going
through the park.'

'Oh, well, if you choose to risk your necks in that wretched car, you
must. For my part, there's nothing like a dogcart with a good trotting
horse; that's fast enough for me; but then I'm fifty years behind the
times, I know. Well, off you go. Good-bye; and come and see me again, and
have some more cheese to your tart,' he added, with a laugh and a twinkle
of his eye, as he raised his hat to the two girls.

'I will if you'll give me chocolates to help it down,' said Horatia; and
the car, with a hoot, sped away.

'And we have done it in five minutes,' cried Horatia as they drew up at
the front-door.

Mrs Clay met them in the hall, breathless. 'Mercy on us, Sarah, w'atever
'appened to the car or Tom? I'm sure my 'eart was in my mouth w'en I saw
you comin' along the park. I ran all the way down the stairs, thinkin' I
should never see you alive w'en I got to the bottom,' cried the poor
woman.

'It's all my fault. I'm so sorry, Mrs Clay! I begged Fox to get home in
five minutes, and I made the car go when we got to the park-gates,' said
Horatia penitently, as she linked her arm coaxingly in little Mrs Clay's.

'My dear, don't yo