“Don’t mind him,” said Jarvis, appearing in the doorway behind her.  “I’m going to drive out the Southville road about five miles after a hay-fork and tackle I’ve bought of a man who’s selling out.  We don’t really need one for our small crop, but it’s too cheap to refuse.  Back in a jiffy.  Don’t you want to go?”

“Thank you—­too busy.”

“You don’t look it—­” for she was starting away at a moderate pace down the driveway, her fresh blue-and-white print skirts giving forth a crisp little sound as she walked.

“But I am.  I’m going on an errand.”

“Which way?”

“Down the road—­Mrs. Hill’s.”

“Wait a minute and I’ll have you there quicker than you can walk.”

He ran in for his driving-gloves, and out through the back hall to the old carriage house where the car stood.  He was only a minute in getting under way, for he had learned to leave his machine in a condition in which it could be used the next time without waiting to fill gasoline tanks or radiators.  It was natural for him to go at things in a systematic way, and he kept his car, as he kept his books and papers, in order, quite without thinking much about it.

But with all his haste Sally had reached the driveway and gone a rod or two down the road before he overtook her.  He slowed down at her side.

“Why didn’t you wait?  Jump in,” said he, “and I’ll have you there in one burst of speed.”

Sally stepped up on the running board and stood there, her arm on the back of the roadster’s seat.

“Get clear in, please,” requested Jarvis.  “There’ll be no bursts of speed with you standing there.”

“I can hold on perfectly well.”

“So can the car stand still.  It will stand still till you get in.”

Sally took the seat.  “Now hurry up, please,” said she.  “There isn’t any use in my getting in at all, just for a foot or two of ride.”

The car moved off.  “Let’s make it longer,” Jarvis urged.  “Drive out with me for the fork.  We won’t be half an hour away, and you can’t have anything very pressing left on hand, with all the work you girls have done to get ready for those youngsters.”

He opened his throttle, as he spoke, and the car responded.  Sally shook her head, decidedly.

“No, no—­I’m not going.  I told Jo I’d be back in five minutes with the big pail Mrs. Hill said we might take for the lemonade.”

“They won’t need lemonade for two hours yet.  Come on—­I want company.”

“Slow down, please,” requested Sally, for the car was already approaching the farm house which was her destination.  But instead of slowing down Jarvis deliberately increased his speed.

“I’m in the habit of doing most things you ask me to,” said he, “but this time I’m going to have my way.  There are plenty of people there to finish it all, this morning.  I’ll have you back before they miss you.”  And the car shot by the Hill farm house at a pace which supported his promise.