"So did I. At least"--smiling--"I converted my innocent compartment into
a temporary smoker."

But she was pleased, nevertheless, that neither their unconventional
introduction, nor the fact that he had rendered her a service, had
tempted him into assuming he might travel with her. It showed a rarely
sensitive perception.

"I suppose you've missed your connection?" he pursued.

"Yes. That's just it. The last train to Abbencombe has gone, and my
friends' car was to meet me there. I'm stranded."

He pondered a moment.

"So am I. I must get on to Abbencombe, though, and I propose to hire a
car and drive there. Will you let me give you a lift? Probably your
chauffeur will still be at the Station. The side-line train is a very
slow one and stops at every little wayside place on the way. To make
sure, we could telephone from here to the Abbencombe station-master,
asking him to tell your man to wait for you as you're coming on by motor."

"Oh--" Nan almost gasped at his quick masculine grip of the situation.
Before she had time to make any answer he had gone off to see about
telephoning.

It was some little time before he returned, but when he finally
reappeared, his face wore an expression of humorous satisfaction.

"I've fixed it all," he said. "Your car has just arrived at Abbencombe