"Would you?" he asked warmly. "I'll be glad to have you. I think she's a mighty fine girl." "Won't you hate to leave her when you make the run across country?" "Well, it isn't to start for a month, but I shall have to go to New City to get familiar with the new machine I am to drive. I'm not going away at once. I'll be in New City for some time." "Oh," began Cora, "I'm glad--" She stopped, and again felt herself blushing. Her tone had been a little too warm. She realized that her evident pleasure and polite interest might be misinterpreted. It looked very much as if Cora was glad that Paul was not going away at once. "Then your sister will not be deprived of your company just yet," she managed to say, and she seemed to be paying particular attention to the sparking lever. "No," he replied. "Hazel and I are great friends--chums, you might say. In fact, I've never had a boy friend with whom I was able to get along so well as I can with my sister." "That's very nice. It's what Jack says about me. He and I are the best of friends. Of course, I'm very fond of the Robinson girls, but Jack comes first. You remember the pretty twins, I've no doubt?" "Yes, indeed I do. I could not help thinking how very 'untwinly' they are for twins." "Aren't they? But they are the dearest girls! And they are going to have a new car." "Is that so? Do you happen to know what kind?" Paul assumed his professional air. "I believe it has not been decided yet. But they will most likely get it from the Whitehall Company. Would you like to turn in the order?" "It would be quite a help for me to be able to sell a car now, so soon after taking a place with them. And the commission--just as I am starting--" "I think I can manage it easily enough," she said quickly. "They are sure to consult Jack about it. Couldn't you come over to our house this evening, and--" Again she found herself stopping suddenly and blushing. It was rather awkward to ask a young man to call, particularly when one has never been properly introduced to him. If he were only acquainted with Jack, now . . . Then Cora had a bright thought. "You say you are acquainted with Walter Pennington?" she asked. "Oh, yes. Our folks and the Penningtons are old friends." "Then we must fix up a plan--er--to be perfectly proper. Not that it makes any difference. First I want to meet your sister. After that I am going to give a small affair. I have been putting it off for some time--it's a positive duty, but I've been so interested in my machine. There--I have it! I think I'll give an auto affair." "Great possibilities in it," observed Paul. "But please do not trouble yourself to get up one on account of myself or my sister, though I appreciate--"