"Yes, thank you," Clodagh replied. "It was a very kind thought of yours, and I shall soon learn to manage well, I hope. To begin with, I think we might arrange all these things better," and she stood up and pulled about and pushed and lifted, till the narrow space looked more orderly, Paulina from her corner now and then directing and advising. She was a handsome young woman, with a by no means disagreeable expression. Indeed there was often a kindly light in her bright eyes, and gentle curves about her mouth. But she was self-willed and quick-tempered, "spoilt" in short, though generous and well-meaning, entirely unused to contradiction and impatient of any obstacles in the way of her wishes or fancies. "Thank goodness," she ejaculated, as she settled herself down again in her wraps, "thank goodness, we have no fellow-passengers. Now I mean to go to sleep again, and so may you, child, if you like. We shall stop at Oddingstowe for dinner and fresh horses, and by four o'clock we should be at Felway, where the Marristons' carriage--and, it is to be hoped, a cart for the luggage--is to meet us. They expect us to stay at the Priory for two or three days. They know you will be with me." "Yes, thank you," replied Clodagh again, feeling mortally shy at the prospect before her, yet not venturing to say so. Paulina composed herself to sleep once more, and before long, in spite of the thoughts that crowded her mind--anxieties, hopes, and fears, as she realised more clearly her new position as her kinswoman's companion--Clodagh too, though a few minutes ago she would not have believed it possible, Clodagh too dozed off. And she slept, as did Paulina, for some time. The stopping of the vehicle, the cessation of the monotonous rumbling, aroused them both. Paulina sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Dear me," she exclaimed, "Oddingstowe already!" Clodagh looked out of the window. "No," she said hesitatingly. "I don't think it can be. There's no village or houses; only a turnpike. Oh, yes," she went on, "I see what it is. We're stopping to take up another passenger." "What sort of one?" her cousin demanded. "I hope to goodness it's not a first-class one--an inside one--we are stuffed up enough already. There's scarcely air to breathe." "N-no," Clodagh replied, continuing to look out. "I don't think it can be. It's only a little old woman, quite poor, and she doesn't seem to have any luggage. She's only carrying a hand-bag--just a sort of reticule." "All right," Paulina responded, lazily settling herself again for another nap. "All the same, I wish they wouldn't pull up in this unnecessary way. I was so comfortably asleep. It's the only thing to do in this tropical heat."