He told Miss Mackarness to pack up, and Miss Mackarness said she would. Miss Mackarness remarked that the world was not what she had imagined it when she was young. It had in fact come to an end. She said she was not surprised at anything and never would be again. She said she had never been in a motor-car, but wanted to be in one, because death seemed quick and easy in a motor-car. She also said that if she escaped, and Lady Penelope was killed, she knew of a good opening in a lunatic asylum for a woman without nerves, who could not be surprised, and had been accustomed to the ways of the highest society. "Oh, yes, yes; we’ll be ready," said Miss Mackarness. And Bob went away to instruct Geordie and Timothy Bunting, and he spent the whole afternoon, covered with dirty oil, dancing about the two motor-cars, while Geordie put them into first-class trim. "We ain’t going to be run to ground by a bishop," said Bob. "Not much we ain’t, sir," said Tim. "I’d sooner go in one of these machines, so I would." It was the first time he had ever said as much, and Geordie paid him a compliment from under the car. "That’s the first sensible remark I’ve ever heard you make, Tim," said the concealed chauffeur. "Thank you," said Timothy. "I always said you were a good chap, Geordie, even if you was wrapped up in muck and grease." And an idea came to Bob. "I know what I’ll do about Gordon," he said. "I’ll write something about this now so’s to show it him afterward." He wrote: "Pen is very sad. I fear she has quarrelled with Gordon. I’m sure she has married Gordon. I wish she would let me send to him to come, but she has sworn me not to. I think the baby is very like Gordon. It is clever like him, only, being younger, not so clever. I don’t mind if it is Gordon. Gordon has been very kind to me, knowing how poor the family is. I wish I was as clever as he is." He read it over carefully. "He’s more jealous of Rivaulx than any one. I’ll put something in about him." He added: "I think Rivaulx an ass because of balloons." "That will please Gordon," said Bob, as he stowed his note-book away. "But I do wish I knew who it is. Women are very fond of secrets. They seem to like babies and secrets best. Pen likes both together, and it’s very confusing to any one." They started next morning in the two cars for Upwell Castle, taking the whole household. Bob installed an old villager and his wife as caretakers. He had selected them himself on the ground that they seemed the stupidest people in the village. Bob was very clever, if not so clever as Gordon. "I think we’ve spoofed ’em, Pen," said Bob. Penelope hugged her baby and wept. "Why are you crying?" asked Bob. "I don’t know," said Penelope. "Then don’t," said Bob. "It makes me very uncomfortable." They devoured space, and Timothy held on to the car and to Miss Mackarness. Miss Mackarness said it altered her ideas. Tim said it didn’t, but then he was very conservative.