‘That was a nasty position for you to be in,’ he said, with genuine sympathy. ‘Oh, those elephants!’ she began gaily; ‘their trunks are so thick and hairy, you’ve no idea----’ Then she stopped, and, without the least warning, burst into tears. It was a very natural reaction, and no one could wonder at such an exhibition. Nevertheless, Richard felt excessively awkward; excessively at a loss what to do under the circumstances. He could scarcely take her in his arms and soothe her like a child; yet that was just the thing he wished to do. ‘Come, come,’ he said, and his spectacles gleamed paternally at her in the moonlight; ‘it is all over now.’ She pulled out a microscopic lace handkerchief, wiped her eyes, and looked at him. ‘Forgive me,’ she exclaimed; and then, smiling: ‘It shan’t occur again.’ ‘You are a brave woman,’ he said sincerely--‘a very brave woman.’ ‘How?’ she asked simply. ‘I did nothing.’ ‘Most women would have fainted or screamed, and then there is no knowing what might not have happened.’ He added, as she made no remark: ‘Can I be of any assistance? Have you far to go? I suppose you must have miscalculated your distances.’ ‘Why?’ she asked, in reference to the last remark. ‘Oh, it’s so late, that’s all.’ ‘It is,’ she said, as though the fact had just struck her. ‘Yes, I must have miscalculated my distances. Fortunately, I have only about a mile more. You see the yellow house on the hill towards Hockliffe? That is my destination.’ ‘You are Miss Craig?’ he said inquiringly. ‘I am. You belong, then, to these parts?’ ‘I happen to know the name of the owner of Queen’s Farm, that is all,’ he admitted cautiously. ‘I am much obliged for your sympathy,’ she said. ‘I shall walk home, and send a horse for the car to-morrow morning.’ ‘I could tow it behind my car,’ he suggested. ‘Pardon me, you couldn’t,’ she said flatly; ‘the steering is smashed.’ ‘I had thought of that,’ he replied quietly, as he picked up the small broken wheel out of the road. ‘If we tie a rope to either end of your front axle, and join them at the rear of my car, your car would steer itself automatically.’ ‘So it would,’ she said; ‘you are resourceful. I will accept your offer.’ Then she examined his car with the rapid glance of an expert. ‘Well I never!’ she murmured. He looked a question. ‘It is a curious coincidence,’ she explained, ‘but we have recently ordered an electric car precisely like yours, and were expecting it to arrive to-morrow--my father and I, I mean. Yours is one of the Williamson Motor Company’s vehicles, is it not?’ Richard bowed. ‘There is no coincidence,’ he said. ‘This car is destined for Mr. Craig. I am bringing it up to Hockliffe. You will remember that Mr. Craig asked that it should be sent by road in charge of a man?’ ‘A man!’ she repeated; and, after a pause: ‘You are, perhaps, a partner in the Williamson Company?’ ‘Not a partner,’ he said.