't take
you long to get a move on."

"You darling!" said Jill, stooping to caress him "The way you went after
that car was just heroic."

"I suppose," said Berry, "that if I were to suggest that he knew
perfectly well that he couldn't catch it, and that it was nothing more
than a brilliant display of eye-wash, I should be abused."

"What a shame!" cried Daphne and Jill in a breath. "What a beastly
shame!"

"I said so," said Berry. "Now, if I'd got out and chased it, you'd have
had me certified."

"I agree," I retorted. "And if you were to offer to walk to Marvel
instead of me, I should have you watched."

"Don't be afraid," was the rejoinder. "The shock was severe, but I'm not
as bad as that. How soon d'you think you'll be back?"

I turned to my sister.

"I'm banking on being able to get a car. But there mayn't be one. So, if
you can get a lift, don't wait." I pointed to Nobby. "He'll want to come
with me, so hang on to him. And if you could find some water"--I glanced
at the oast-house--"I think he'd be glad of it."

"All right, dear. Take it as easy as you can."

A moment later I was striding along the Marvel road.

By the time I had covered the two miles it was a quarter past one, and I
was unpleasantly hot. I was also conscious of being improperly dressed
in an unusually loose grey overcoat, tweed cap, striped cashmere
trousers and patent-leather boots. I had taken off my morning coat and
waistcoat before starting to walk, but the heat was awful, and my stiff
white shirt and collar were wilting visibly....

I was fortunate to obtain the services of two mechanics, but I must
confess that my face fell when the only car that was available proved to
be a 1908 Ford....

As we drew up at the fatal corner, the others came out of the oast-house
to see what was making the noise. When they beheld their conveyance,
they were profoundly moved.

"Do you mean to say," said Daphne, "that this is the best you could do?"

I nodded.

"And you'll have to look sharp if you want to be there before the
service is over. One cylinder's missing."

"So's the skid-pan," said Berry. "And where's the back seat? I beg your
pardon--I'd got it the wrong way round. It is facing that way, isn't it?
Yes. Oh, but what a line! What finish! You know, all it wants is a board
with 'Ancient Lights' on the radiator, and somebody to close its doors
one day in every year, and then, whenever the fowls lay in it, you can
turn them out."