It was not an entire success--that start. There were several false moves
on Phineas's part, and Diantha could not repress a slight scream and a
nervous jump at sundry unexpected puffs and snorts and snaps from the
throbbing thing beneath her. She gave a louder scream when Phineas, in
his nervousness, sounded the siren, and a wail like a cry from the
spirit world shrieked in her ears.

"Phineas, what was that?" she shivered, when the voice had moaned into
silence.

Phineas's lips were dry, and his hands and knees were shaking; but his
pride marched boldly to the front.

"Why, that's the siren whistle, 'course," he chattered. "Ain't it great?
I thought you'd like it!" And to hear him one would suppose that to
sound the siren was always a necessary preliminary to starting the
wheels.

They were off at last. There was a slight indecision, to be sure,
whether they would go backward or forward, and there was some hesitation
as to whether Diantha's geranium bed or the driveway would make the best
thoroughfare. But these little matters having been settled to the
apparent satisfaction of all concerned, the automobile rolled down the
driveway and out on to the main highway.

"Oh, ain't this grand!" murmured Diantha, drawing a long but somewhat
tremulous breath.

Phineas did not answer. His lips were tense, and his eyes were fixed on