"I expect you are wondering what I am doing here by myself, and where I am going," she said, when she stopped and he stood by the gig. "I shall tell you the exact truth, because I know you will not mind. We started out a long time ago, but mother had a headache, and the motion of the gig made it worse. She was trying to bear it so that I might have a drive, but I insisted upon turning back. I took her as far as the orchard, where I left her, and since then I have been driving about by myself and having an awfully good time. Mother did not mind that, as I promised not to go far away. But I think I have now gone far enough along this road. I like driving ever so much! Don't you want me to drive you home?" "Indeed I do!" said Ralph, and in he jumped. "I expect Miriam must be enjoying this lovely evening," she said. "And she will see the sun set from the beach, for Barport faces westward, and I never saw a girl enjoy sunsets as she does. At this moment I expect her face is as bright as the sky." "And wouldn't you like to be standing by her?" asked Ralph. Cicely shook her head. "No," she said. "To speak truly, I should rather be here. We used to go a good deal to the seashore, but this is the first time that I ever really lived in the country, and it is so charming I would not lose a day of it, and there cannot be very many more days of it, anyway." "Why not?" asked Ralph. "I am now copying chapter twenty-seventh of the doctor's book, and there are only thirty-one in all. And as to his other work, that will not occupy me very long." Ralph was about to ask a question, but, instead, he involuntarily grasped one of the little gloved hands that held the reins. "Pull that," he said quickly. "You must always turn to the right when you meet a vehicle." Cicely obeyed, but when they had passed a wagon, drawn by a team of oxen, she said, "But there was more room on the other side." "That may be," replied Ralph, with a laugh, "but when you are driving, you must not rely too much on your reason, but must follow rules and tradition." "If I knew as much about driving as I like it," said she, "I should be a famous whip. Before we go, I am going to ask Miriam to take me out with her, two or three times, and give me lessons in driving. She told me that you had taught her a great deal." "So you would be willing to take your tuition secondhand," said Ralph. "I am a much better teacher than Miriam is." "Would you like to make up a class?" she asked. "But I do not know how the teacher and the two pupils could ride in this gig. Oh, I see. Miriam and I could sit here, and you could walk by our side and instruct us, and when the one who happened to be driving should make a mistake, she would give up her seat and the reins, and go to the foot of her class." "Class indeed!" exclaimed Ralph; "I'll have none of it. I will take you out tomorrow and give you a lesson." So they went gayly on till they came to a grassy hill which shut out the western view.