But, as Cora had said, she needed help. The chair was of such a
depth that one's center of gravity was displaced, if you wish the
scientific explanation.

"Now don't you dare lean back again!" warned Cora, as her chum sat on
the springy edge of the chair, in a listening attitude. "To resume,
as the lecturer in chemistry says, after Sid had so obligingly fixed
the puncture, I started off again, for mamma wanted some worsted and
I had offered to run into town to get it for her. The next thing
that happened to me, Bess dear, I saw the nicest young man, and ran
right into--"

"Not into him, Cora! Don't tell me you hurt anyone!" cried Bess,
covering her face with her hands or at least, trying to, for her
hands were hardly large enough for the completion of the task.

"No, I didn't run into him, Bess, though there was a dog--but that's
another story."

"Oh, Cora! I do wish you'd finish one thing at a time. And that
reminds me--"

"Wait, Bess, dear. I didn't run into the young man, but he bowed to
me, and I turned around to make sure who he was, for at first I
thought him a perfect stranger, and I was going to cut him. In my
excitement, I ran right into a newly oiled place on the road, and,
before I knew it, I was skidding something awful! Before I could
reach the emergency brake, I had run sideways right against the
curbing, and it's a mercy I didn't split a rim. And the young man