Alfred felt reproved but not disconcerted. It might be politic to change the talk to motor-'buses, so he said abruptly: "I'm in a fair sweat, Miss Fancy." "Mercy me! Shall I fetch you a glass of water?" "Figure of speech, miss. It's like this, if you'll excuse me talking of my own affairs." "Why, I like that. It's so--so friendly of you, Mr. Yellam." "I'm standing betwixt the devil and the deep sea." "Well, I never!" He gazed so earnestly at Fancy that she wondered if she were the deep sea, and that the devil was an allusion to the late parlourmaid. Alfred continued: "The world, miss, goes round and round for true lovers, but it don't stand still for anybody, leastways not for carriers. We must push along with the times, eh?" He glanced at her anxiously. She was quick to perceive that he wanted counsel and much flattered thereby. She eyed him as keenly as he, just now, had eyed her. Being so frail and attenuated herself, his massive form and square head attracted her strangely. She admired his big chin and too heavy nose. And her eyes lingered with appreciation upon the bulging biceps and deltoids shewing strongly beneath his thin summer jacket. What a sad pity that her dear father had not been cast in such a mould! To his anxious question, she replied with a little bob of her head. "My father and granfer were carriers before me. Van and horses was good enough for them. And good enough for me, too. It tears me to scrap 'em." "Scrap them?" "Ay. When you go back home, how'd it suit you to ride in a motor-'bus?" "It would be grand," said Fancy. Alfred rubbed his hands; his red face beamed. "Dang me, if that don't put the lid on it." "I beg your pardon, Mr. Yellam?" "I was half hoping you'd say what you did. Yes--it would be grand. A nice 'bus--red and yaller--'d make the neighbours yap a bit. Do you know what they call my old van?" "It's a nice comfortable van." "So 'tis. But would-be funny folks call it 'Flash o' Lightnin'.'" Fancy laughed. Alfred decided that it was a treat to hear her laugh. "Are you angry with me for laughing?" "Lord--no! A laugh like yours warms the cockles of my heart. Laugh away, miss. All the same, there's a meaning in what neighbours say. I do move slow, when I've a load. And in winter-time, when roads are heavy, I just crawl along. You're right. A motor-'bus _is_ grand. And I can pay cash for one, I can." He spoke with pride, opening his large hands. Fancy, having finished cutting the bread-and-butter, sat down opposite to Alfred. With some difficulty he mastered the impulse to invite this bird-like creature to perch on his knee. Her air of aloofness both pleased and exasperated him. She sat very still, with her hands folded upon her lap, just as good girls sat in church. Alfred talked with gusto about motor-'buses. "Can you drive a motor?" asked Fancy, when he paused to mop his forehead with a huge red bandana.