Just as twilight settled into dusk and for the first time the headlights of the car came on with a long reach like a golden ribbon along the road, Channing, suddenly slowing down, a few miles out of the city, began a rapid speech on a subject so unexpected that it fairly took his hearer's breath away. "It's not fair of me to tell you, but I've simply got to get in the first word. You must pretend you haven't heard it, but if there's any persuading to be done I want my share, and want it first. Your cousins are going to invite you to sail with them next week for a summer in England after a fortnight in Paris--Paris in June! You don't know what that means; you can't even imagine it. I can--I know it--don't I know it!" He laughed softly. "Since they're to be away and won't need her they'll send down their housekeeper--the most competent person in the world--to stay with your father and make him absolutely comfortable, so you don't have to hesitate on that score." "It's perfectly wonderful, but"--Georgiana was staring at him through the dusk--"but--oh, I couldn't, Mr. Channing! how could I? Father is so feeble; something might happen." "Not in summer. Things don't happen to elderly people in summer. It's in winter--pneumonia and things like that. And don't you know he'd be delighted to have you go? He wouldn't let you miss such a chance; I know him already well enough for that." "But, you see, I'm engaged to work for Mr. Jefferson----" "Well, he'll be all right; he's a traveled man himself; anybody can see that. He wouldn't stand in the way of your good, not for a moment; of course he wouldn't. He'd urge you to go. Why, there's nothing else for you to do. Think of the glorious summer we'll have--glorious! Why, I----" "What do you mean? I don't understand." Georgiana felt her cheeks grow scarlet in the darkness. "Mean? What could I mean? Why, I'm going, too, of course. Sailing when you do. Invited to spend a month in Devon with the Croftons--and you." His voice sank lower. "And that fortnight in Paris--oh, I'll be in Paris, too, no doubt of that! I'll show you what Paris is like on a June evening. Do you think I'd want to send you out of this country if I weren't going, too? Not I--Georgiana!" CHAPTER XV "GREAT LUCK!" "Father Davy, are you sure, _sure_?" begged his daughter.