"Comin'--next week."

"An' did you try 'em all, as you said you would?"

Phineas stirred; then he sighed.

"Well, I dunno," he acknowledged. "I hain't done nothin' but ride in 'em
since I went down--I know that. But there's such a powerful lot of 'em,
Dianthy; an' when they found out I wanted one, they all took hold an'
showed off their best p'ints--'demonstatin',' they called it. They raced
me up hill an' down hill, an' scooted me round corners till I didn't
know where I was. I didn't have a minute ter myself. An' they went fast,
Dianthy-powerful fast. I ain't real sure yet that I'm breathin'
natural."

"But it must have been grand, Phineas! I should have loved it!"

"Oh, it was, 'course!" assured Phineas, hastily.

"An' you'll take me ter ride, right away?" If Phineas hesitated it was
for only a moment.

"'Course," he promised. "Er--there's a man, he's comin' with it, an'
he's goin' ter stay a little, jest ter--ter make sure everything's all
right. After he goes I'll come. An' ye want ter be ready--I'll show ye a
thing or two!" he finished with a swagger that was meant to hide the
shake in his voice.

In due time the man and the automobile arrived, but Diantha did not have
her ride at once. It must have taken some time to make sure that