“Very much so, thanks to you.”

“Well, if you want to ride back with me, I’ll be very glad to have you.  I must get back in time for luncheon or mamma may worry.”

“Well, we mustn’t have that happen.  I’ll get right in,” which he did, after cranking up the car for her, for not always could she stop it leaving a charge in one cylinder, so that it would start from the seat.

“I’m very glad you got the place,” went on Cora as she steered out from among a tangle of other autos and carriages about the station.

“So am I. It means a great deal to me.”

“And Sid was so disappointed.  I could tell by his face, though he pretended not to be.  But that’s why he—­ran away with me—­or, rather, with my car.”

“It would be difficult to understand all his reasons,” declared Paul with a smile.  “He may have had another, equally weighty.”

“You mean—­”

Cora felt the warm blood mounting to her cheeks.

“I think he wanted to boast that he had ridden with you.”

Paul was rather sorry he had said this, the moment after the words were uttered.  Cora seemed much embarrassed.  To give a new direction to her thoughts, Paul said: 

“I want to tell you about my sister.  It was on her account that I particularly wished to get this position.  Hazel wants to go to college, and we couldn’t afford to send her.  Now, with the increase in salary which I shall get, it will be possible.”

“Oh, how nice!” exclaimed Cora.  “What college is she going to?”

“I don’t know yet.  But she is very ambitious.”

“I should judge that—­from knowing her brother.”

“That’s very nice of you,” he said, and then both laughed.

“I’d like to meet your sister,” Cora remarked; without thinking of all her words might imply.

“Would you?” he asked warmly.  “I’ll be glad to have you.  I think she’s a mighty fine girl.”

“Won’t you hate to leave her when you make the run across country?”

“Well, it isn’t to start for a month, but I shall have to go to New City to get familiar with the new machine I am to drive.  I’m not going away at once.  I’ll be in New City for some time.”

“Oh,” began Cora, “I’m glad—­”

She stopped, and again felt herself blushing.  Her tone had been a little too warm.  She realized that her evident pleasure and polite interest might be misinterpreted.  It looked very much as if Cora was glad that Paul was not going away at once.

“Then your sister will not be deprived of your company just yet,” she managed to say, and she seemed to be paying particular attention to the sparking lever.

“No,” he replied.  “Hazel and I are great friends—­chums, you might say.  In fact, I’ve never had a boy friend with whom I was able to get along so well as I can with my sister.”

“That’s very nice.  It’s what Jack says about me.  He and I are the best of friends.  Of course, I’m very fond of the Robinson girls, but Jack comes first.  You remember the pretty twins, I’ve no doubt?”