"Did you ever know mother late for anything, Father?" inquired Nancy calmly. Colonel Peyton chuckled, and shook his finger at her. "It's you I'm thinking of, miss," he said; "you're the one that will keep us waiting." "Come along," said Mrs. Peyton, "and put your things on, darling. We mustn't keep the car standing." Mrs. Peyton, having been brought up with horses, had never been able to rid herself of the idea that a motor became restless under such treatment. Nancy laughed, and accompanied her mother upstairs, from which region she shortly emerged, looking bewitchingly demure and pretty in a sort of Kate Greenaway cloak and bonnet. The Colonel, who was just struggling into his coat, gazed at her with fond approval. "Very nice, Nancy," he said; "very nice. You remind me of your mother." The compliment--to Colonel Peyton it was a very genuine compliment--had hardly left his lips when there came the loud hum of a motor-car driving up to the house. Nancy stepped forward, and opened the door. "Punctual to the minute," observed the Colonel triumphantly. "It's a pleasure to deal with a young man like that." The young man in question brought the car round with a graceful sweep, and pulled up noiselessly level with the doorstep. "How do you do?" he said, taking off his cap, and bowing slightly to Nancy and Mrs. Peyton. The Colonel stepped out and offered his hand. "How are you, Mr. Leslie?" he inquired. "Very good of you to come round and drive us yourself. Now you're making cars of your own you don't do much of this sort of thing, I suppose--eh, what?" "Not often," said Leslie gravely. "Unless people specially ask for me, I generally send one of the men." Nancy's eyes sparkled merrily. "May I sit in front with the driver, Father?" she asked. "I love to watch him pull out the handles." The Colonel looked a trifle embarrassed. "Oh, I--I--er--expect Mr. Leslie doesn't like to be asked questions while he's driving, Nancy." It seemed to him curious that his daughter failed to recognize that Leslie was a cut above the ordinary chauffeur. "I hope Miss Peyton will sit in front if she wishes to," said Leslie. "I don't in the least mind being asked questions. One gets used to it, you know." Nancy did not wait for any further discussion, but jumped lightly up into the vacant seat, while a solemn-looking butler proceeded to stow a hamper into the back of the car. The Colonel and Mrs. Peyton then took their places, and Leslie, slipping in his clutch, turned the car slowly round and started off up the road.