“I’ve come to ask a favor,” Grace said eagerly. “And you’re to promise first that you will tell me truly if there is any reason why it isn’t convenient to grant it. Now do you promise?” Cornelia laughingly promised, but before the request was made she heard Carey’s step at the side door, and a shadow of anxiety came into her eyes. Carey, not knowing of their visitor, came straight into the living room in search of his sister. “I couldn’t get any more cement tonight. Isn’t that a shame?” he said before he saw their guest, and then came forward, half abashed to greet her, apologizing for his rough working garb. “Please don’t apologize,” said Grace eagerly. “You look fine. You couldn’t work in evening clothes, could you? And wait till you hear what I’ve come to beg you to do. Are you awfully busy this evening, both of you?” “Not a thing in the world to do,” said Carey eagerly. “I’m at your service. What can I do for you? Anything but sing. I really can’t sing well enough to go into a choir.” “Well, I don’t want you to sing tonight,” said Grace, laughing. “Guess again. Now you’re _sure_ you haven’t any engagement?” “No, indeed, honor bright,” he declared smiling. “Well, then I’m going to beg you to do a big favor. You see father is asked to speak over at Glen Avon tonight and he has just discovered that they only have two trains a day, and the evening train will get him there too late for the meeting; so he had to hurry around and try to get some one to take him in a car. We have found the car. It belongs to Mr. Williams, and he is just eager to lend it; but he can’t drive it himself, because he has to go to New York at five o’clock. He’s rather particular about who drives it, and he said, if we could get a good, reliable driver, we were welcome to it. Father knew that you were used to cars; he’s watched you driving Mr. Barlock’s car sometimes, and he wondered if you would be willing to go and drive us. The car is a great big, roomy one, and we can take as many along as want to go; and I thought perhaps you and the children would like to go too.” She turned to Cornelia and then back to Carey. “You’re quite sure there isn’t any reason at all why it isn’t convenient for you?” “Perfectly,” said Carey with shining eyes; “I’d rather drive than eat any day in the week. And it will be a dandy trip. The roads over there are like velvet. There’s going to be a moon tonight, too! Gee! I’m glad you asked me. When do we start?” “Why, father has to be there by eight. How long do you think it will take? We must not run any risk of being late. It is some kind of a convention and father has charge of the hour from eight to nine. We won’t have to stay late, you know, and we can ride a while afterward if we like.”