Ken and Maria stayed in the observatory until the comet had almost disappeared below the horizon. Mrs. Maddox brought a snack of sandwiches and punch. "I always do this when I see the observatory dome open," she said, smiling. "I never know when Ken's going to quit his stargazing and come in for the night." "We're about through, Mom. I'll drive Maria over to her place and be back in a little while." "I'm going to loan him the stamps," Maria said. Mrs. Maddox looked at Ken in mock severity. "You mean you forgot _again_?" "No--I remembered," Ken said lamely. "After the post office closed, that is. Anyhow, Maria has plenty." "Well," said Mrs. Maddox, "I know who's going to have to mail my invitations if they're ever to get out in time for the party!" After he and Maria had finished the snack, Ken started his car again. The engine had cooled to normal temperature, but he watched the indicator closely as he drove. Nothing seemed right about the action of the car. The engine had turned over sluggishly when he pressed the starter button, as if the battery were almost dead. Now it lugged heavily, even when going downhill. "The whole thing's haywire," Ken said irritably. "It acts like the crankcase is full of sand or something." "Let me walk the rest of the way," said Maria. "You take the car back, and I'll bring the stamps over on my way to school in the morning." "No, we're almost there. Nothing much more could go wrong than already has." When they reached Maria's place they found Professor and Mrs. Larsen sitting on the porch. "We've been watching the comet," Maria said excitedly. "Ken let me look at it through his telescope." "A remarkable event," said Professor Larsen. "I feel very fortunate to be alive to witness it. My generation hasn't had this kind of privilege before. I was a child when Halley's comet appeared." "I've been trying to tell Maria what a lucky break this is, but she agrees with Granny Wicks," said Ken. "Oh, I do not!" Maria snapped. "Granny Wicks?" Professor Larsen inquired. "Your grandmother?" "No." Ken tried to cover the professor's lack of familiarity with American idioms. "She's just the town's oldest citizen. Everybody likes her and calls her Granny, but her mind belongs to the Middle Ages." "You hear that, Papa?" cried Maria. "Her mind belongs to the Middle Ages, and he says I'm like Granny Wicks!" Maria's mother laughed gently. "I'm sure Ken didn't mean your mind is of the Middle Ages, too, dear." Ken flushed. "Of course not. What I mean is that Granny Wicks thinks the comet is something mysterious and full of omens, and Maria says she sort of thinks the same about it." "I didn't say anything about omens and signs!" "Well, except for that...."