"Yes, I hope I am. Will you let me drive you to the station this morning in my car? You will see then that I am an experienced driver. And I want you to test my car, and tell me if you think it is a comfortable one." For an instant husband's and wife's eyes met across the table, then Mrs. Wharnecliffe said: "Let her do it, Frank. We'll tell Munn he will not be needed." Gentian was delighted. She drove her host to the station an hour later, and he found no fault with her driving, or with her car. Yet he, as well as his wife, expressed disapproval of her taking it up as a profession. "I would not let a daughter of my own do it on any consideration," he told her. "But if you and your wife were taken to the other world, and your daughter left alone with no money and no home, would not that alter the case?" "No, I should never rest in my grave if I knew that a young girl was being exposed to such a difficult and dangerous life." Gentian was silent. She did not come straight home after she had left the station. She picked up two old women trudging along the dusty road with heavy baskets of eggs which they were carrying to market in Winderball, and she drove them to their destination; then she explored the country on the farther side of the town, and coming back, bought a motor map of the county. When she arrived at the Hall, she found Mrs. Wharnecliffe in the garden giving directions to her gardener. They walked through the garden together, Gentian giving an account of her drive. "I am going to take you to have tea with Thorold this afternoon," said Mrs. Wharnecliffe presently. "He has invited us." Gentian looked at her with laughing eyes but with screwed-up lips. "He must leave me alone whilst I am your guest," she said; "I feel he will try to manage me, if I get to know him well. I suppose men can't help that assertive manner in dealing with women." "Thorold is a dear," said Mrs. Wharnecliffe quickly; "you must not abuse him to me. He is one of the most unselfish men on the face of the earth, and it is only lately that he has had any leisure or comfort. He has toiled early and late to support three young stepbrothers, and he was very badly off before his cousin died." "Then if he has known poverty, he ought to sympathize with me." "Does he not?" Gentian turned aside to pick up a fallen rose, for Mrs. Wharnecliffe was gathering some roses as she talked. "He looks a good man," the girl said after a short silence. "I won't discuss him any more." She was full of interest when they motored over to Crowhurst Manor, comparing the English country with Italy and telling Mrs. Wharnecliffe many of her experiences there.