The "burr r-rr-r" of an approaching automobile startled her. She turned and confronted Rob Roland. "Well," he exclaimed, his pleasure too evident, "this is luck. Were you going to Aunt Salvey's?" Cecilia was annoyed. But she had no other course than to reply that she was going to the cottage. "So am I," replied the young man, "and very likely our business is of the same nature." "I am going to fetch her into town to the hearing," spoke up Cecilia, "and I have to hurry along." "And I, too, was going to fetch her. She is quite in demand, it seems," and he stretched his thin lips over his particularly fine teeth in something like a sneer. "I wish I had known you were coming out; I should have invited you to ride with me." "Thanks," said Cecilia indifferently. "But I could hardly have accepted. I had some calls to, make as I came along." "Yes, I saw your machine at Hastings. How's the chap getting on?" "Paul is almost better," replied Cecilia, making an effort to get out of talking distance. But he knew exactly why she sent her machine ahead, and while too diplomatic to actually bar her way, he, too, opened the throttle to increase the speed of his car. It was very aggravating. Cecilia had expected to have an important talk alone with Mrs. Salvey. Without a doubt this was also the very thing Rob Roland intended to do. If only she could get Mrs. Salvey into her car. But if she should prefer to ride with her nephew. For some short distance Cecilia rode along without attempting conversation with the young man who was driving as close to her car as it was possible for him to do. Finally he spoke: "Have you ever been in a courtroom?" he asked. "No," she replied curtly. "Then you are sure to make a hit. Bet your picture will be in the paper to-morrow." "What!" gasped Cecilia. "I understood this was to be a private hearing." "Nothing's private from the newspaper chaps. They make more of chamber hearings than the open affairs. Always sure to be something behind the doors, you know." The thought flashed through the girl's mind that he was trying to frighten her--to keep her away from the hearing. "Well, I hope they have decent cameras," she managed to say indifferently. He glanced at her with a look that meant she would make a picture. And in this, at least, he was honest, for the girl was certainly attractive in her linen coat, her turn-over collar and her simple Panama hat. She looked almost boyish. "Better let me call Aunt Salvey," he said as they neared the cottage. "But there she is--waiting for us." Cecilia urged the Turtle slightly ahead, then stopped suddenly. She was almost nervous with suppressed excitement. "All ready?" she asked as Mrs. Salvey greeted first her, then the young man. "Yes. I wanted to be on time," replied the woman, stepping down from the porch. "Well, you cannot ride in two cars," called young Roland, "and this is--if I must be impolite--the best machine, Aunt Salvey."