“Yes, but not behind the scenes; and the Mum sometimes makes such horrible blunders in etiquette, such as sending in a baronet’s wife before a countess--and the countess looked pea-green! Altogether it’s a fag. When Bertie marries I expect pater will make him over the place. I wouldn’t mind reigning here myself--would you, Aurea?” “What a silly question, Joey! I’m not cut out for reigning anywhere.” “Only in people’s hearts, eh?” stroking her cheek with a finger. “Isn’t that a pretty speech? Well, come along, I want to show you the pretty things I collected abroad--my fans and lace and embroideries.” But just at this moment a maid entered, and said-- “If you please, ma’am, I was to say that Miss Parrett’s car is at the door, and she’s waiting for Miss Morven.” The drive home was made by another road (in spite of Miss Parrett’s querulous protestations, and it was evident that the sooner she could abandon the motor the better she would be pleased). Susan, on the other hand, was anxious to see more of the country, and make a detour round by a little town, eight miles away. “Why, it’s nothing,” she protested; “it’s not worth taking out the car for a run over to Westmere--one might as well walk!” “One would think it was _your_ car, to hear you talking, Susan;” and Miss Parrett threw herself back in the corner, and closed her eyes, only to open them again immediately, as they sped along the empty, country roads between hedges already green. “There’s Hopfield Hill!” she exclaimed, suddenly sitting bolt upright. “I’m not going down that in a motor, so don’t suppose it, either of you.” “But it’s three-quarters of a mile long, and you have a blister on your heel,” expostulated her sister. “Come, Bella, don’t be foolish.” “_Don’t_ argue; if it was twenty miles I’d walk it. This thing gives me palpitation as it is.” In spite of Aurea’s and Miss Susan’s prayers, vows, and assurances, Miss Parrett descended at the top of a long hill, insisted that her companions should accompany her, and together the trio tramped down in the mud, whilst the chauffeur sped along merrily, and awaited them at the base. On their way home by a narrow byroad they nearly met with a nasty accident. A cart, drawn by a young horse, was coming out of a gate as the motor approached, and there was an exciting scene. The boy who was driving lost his head, the horse reared and plunged, Miss Parrett shrieked, and the motor--which was jammed into the bank--shuddered all over; but, after a moment--a critical moment--all was well--all but Miss Parrett, who collapsed into her corner, and announced that she had spasms of the heart, and was dying!