ness of her own.

"Why--why--yes," Bibbs stammered. "I'll--I'll be de--Won't you get in?"

In that manner and in that place they exchanged their first words. Then
Mary without more ado got into the coupe, and Bibbs followed, closing
the door.

"You're very kind," she said, somewhat breathlessly. "I should have had
to walk, and it's beginning to get dark. It's three miles, I think."

"Yes," said Bibbs. "It--it is beginning to get dark. I--I noticed that."

"I ought to tell you--I--" Mary began, confusedly. She bit her lip, sat
silent a moment, then spoke with composure. "It must seem odd, my--"

"No, no!" Bibbs protested, earnestly. "Not in the--in the least."

"It does, though," said Mary. "I had not intended to come to the
cemetery, Mr. Sheridan, but one of the men in charge at the house came
and whispered to me that 'the family wished me to'--I think your sister
sent him. So I came. But when we reached here I--oh, I felt that perhaps
I--"

Bibbs nodded gravely. "Yes, yes," he murmured.

"I got out on the opposite side of the carriage," she continued. "I mean
opposite from--from where all of you were. And I wandered off over in
the other direction; and I didn't realize how little time it takes.
From where I was I couldn't see the carriages leaving--at least I didn't
notice them. So when I got back, just now, you were the only one here.
I didn't know the other people in the carriage I came in, and of course
they didn't think to wait for me. That's why--"

"Yes," said Bibbs, "I--" And that seemed all he had to say just then.

Mary looked out through the dusty window. "I think we'd better be going
home, if you please," she said.

"Yes," Bibbs agreed, not moving. "It will be dark before we get there."

She gave him a quick little glance. "I think you must be very tired,
Mr. Sheridan; and I know you have reason to be," she said, gently. "If
you'll let me, I'll--" And without explaining her purpose she opened the
door on her side of the coupe and leaned out.

Bibbs started in blank perplexity, not knowing what she meant to do.

"Driver!" she called, in her clear voice, loudly. "Driver! We'd like to
start, please! Driver! Stop at the house just north of Mr. Sheridan's,
please." The wheels began to move, and she leaned back beside Bibbs
once more. "I noticed that he was asleep when we got in," she said. "I
suppose they have a great deal of night work."

Bibbs drew a long breath and waited till he could command