You _must_ learn to attend to the business in hand, or you will never
succeed in anything. Another inch and you would have upset us, and
probably have broken a spring."

Dr. Trenire's nerves were on edge, and he spoke more sharply than was
usual with him. Kitty felt that she had made a bad beginning, her
spirits sank, and she lapsed into silence. But when they were once more
bowling smoothly along, her father's thoughts returned to her appeal.

"I am afraid it is too late now," he said gently, sorry for his
momentary irritability. "I have already written to your aunt."

Kitty turned a stricken face to him, and her hold of the reins loosened
again. "Written to Aunt Pike--already!" she gasped. "Oh!" But hope
rose again a moment later. "But you haven't posted it?"

"Yes, I have. At least, I gave it, with some others, to Jabez to post.
It will have gone by the time we reach home."

"Oh, how dreadful!" Kitty's fingers tightened on the reins.
Her impulse was to turn and drive back furiously to try and intercept
that fatal letter. "Father, do let me just drive quickly back and stop
it," she pleaded; but her father shook his head.

"I must get on to see Sir James as speedily as I can. It would take us
nearly an hour to go home and reach this far again; the old gentleman
would think I wasn't coming to-night. Look at the sky, too; we must try
and get to Welland, if not home again, before the storm bursts. It will
be a bad one when it comes, and anything but pleasant or safe to be
driving through over an exposed road such as this; and even now I am