"Are you all right, Mary?" asked Cora with a reassuring smile.

"Oh, yes," replied the girl with a happy little laugh. "This
is--just glorious!"

"Wait just a minute," begged Bess. "I want to tie my hat on more
securely. I do hope we get our auto bonnets soon."

"Madam said they would be finished to-day," remarked Mary. "They are
very pretty, I think." Madam Julia was Mary's employer.

"Chug! chug!" sounded from the motor as it speeded up, momentarily,
drowning all conversation. Then, as Cora climbed in and adjusted the
throttle and shifted the spark lever, she let in the clutch, and the
car rolled gently away.

"Where were the boys to meet us?" asked Belle.

"At the turnpike junction," replied Cora as she deftly threw in the
high speed gear, and that without the terrific grinding of the cogs
that betrays the inexperienced hand. The Whirlwind leaped forward,
and the girls clutched their hats. "Jack promised he wouldn't be a
minute late," went on Cora as she turned out to avoid a rut.

"Jack usually is on time," murmured Isabel. She almost lisped, yet
the more you heard it the more you thought it was but a pretty
little catch in her voice--in the accent--after the manner of
babies, who seem to defer all they have to say to their listener.
Every one loved Isabel.